Musings of a Comic Book Geek

Tag Archives: Tyler Kirkham

This week rounds out the month with some classic series like Teen Titans and The Flash and adds a few Annuals to the mix. It also marks the end of the very intriguing Damian: Son of Batman series. Not the most perfect week of comics, but certainly a few gems to be read.

The Flash #27begins the last arc of writer Brian Buccellato’s run on this title. Beginning in the 19th century when the Gem Cities of Keystone and Central City were mining camps, we get a two page glimpse at a murder centuries. Cut to the present when Flash is running down (pun intended) a few of his lesser foes, only to discover a hidden chamber beneath the city streets containing several long dead bodies. They fit the M.O. of a killer put away on a life sentence, but according to forensics were killed AFTER said person, Hollis Holden, was sent to Iron Heights Prison. As Barry looks into the facts it slowly dawns on him that this could be the case that clears his father’s name of killing Barry’s mom. It’s a sad thing that Buccellato is leaving the Flash, because his collaboration with Francis Manapul on the title has truly invigorated this series and made it one of the “can’t miss” series of the current DC lineup. Though Manapul is absent in art, Patrick Zircher takes over art duties and his panels bring the Flash alive in a whole new way. I won’t say that I like the art better than Manapul’s, which is in it’s own category, but I definitely love his work and would seek it out in other titles once this title transitions. With this being Buccellato’s last hoorah on the Flash, it’s a distinct possibility that Barry might ACTUALLY solve his mother’s murder. The question comes down to how well that answer could be given under the current circumstances and the size of Buccellato’s ego. My opinion could swing favorably or unfavorably on this one. Two more issues to go . . .

The Red Lanterns #27 begins properly the new phase in the Red Lantern mission. After “Lights Out” Hal Jordan gave Guy Gardner and his Red Lanterns a sector of Space for their own, free of interference from the Green Lanterns. Guy took 2814, home most notably to the planet Earth. Writer Charles Soule says Ysmault, the Red Lantern homeworld, is in Sector 2814 and that is the rationale for its selection. I’m not buying it. This is one time when I have to question Soule’s logic, considering that Ysmault was used as the prison to house the survivors of the Manhunter massacre of every living thing in Sector 666, except the six Inversions imprisoned on there. They were imprisoned to keep them out of sight and out of mind so they couldn’t tell the rest of the Universe what the Guardians let happen. So . . . why would they put these dangerous criminals in a heavily populated sector like 2814 when they could use any of the THOUSANDS of deserted planets in 666 where nobody ever goes and where there are no Green Lanterns patrolling? I’m pretty sure they did even say Ysmault is in 666 somewhere in one issue or another. A very ill-conceived gambit to justify the annexing of 2814 by the Reds. With that taken into account, Guy intends to inspect Earth and show Skallox and Zilius Zox his homeworld, as they have never seen it before. I am fairly certain Skallox went to Earth in Red Lanterns #10 or the crossover issue of Stormwatch #10. Soule is appearing to not have done his homework. Rankorr and Bleez, who have been to Earth many times, are dispatched to find a newly minted Red Lantern and reign them in, only to come face-to-face with Atrocitus, who found new ring himself and initiate the new toad-like Red into the fold. On Earth Skallox and Zox are left to their own devices, invariably finding trouble. The main thing that Charles Soule accomplishes with this issue is the reintroduction of Tora Olafsdottir, aka Ice, into the New DCU, as well as recapping the former relationship that Guy and Tora once had. I like the series, but I do think that of the many things that Charles Soule is currently writing this is the weakest series and the one that probably has the least of his attention. That’s not to say that it’s bad, but it could be way better.

An Icy Reception.

Teen Titans #27appears to be Scott Lobdell’s attempt to make a liar out of me. Last issue, he and artist Tyler Kirkham went about detailing the secret origin of Kid Flash, aka Bar-Tor, as a “psychotic anarchist” who led a bloody rebellion in a tyrannically oppressive future. At least that was their aim. What they showed was a level headed kid that did everything within his power to protect and provide for his little sister, Shira, and make a better world. He is nothing more than what any person would be in that situation and far from the psychopath they’d depicted him as. This issue changes that. It also, to a small degree, changes the rationale behind his surrender to the galactic “Functionary” that oppressed the lower classes of its citizens. In issue #26 it appeared that the near death of Shira due to his actions snapped Bar out of his revolutionary fervor, making him give himself up to authorities. While I still believe that he loves his sister and that she is his primary reason for doing what he has done, Scott Lobdell shows that Kid Flash’s surrender was both strategic and deceptive. Though he was granted witness protection and a new identity in the past, the Functionary show when they try Bar in this issue that they never had any intention of letting him live. They only meant to break his rebellion by putting on a show trial with him ratting out those that believe in him and fought for him, killing their spirit, and then executing him afterward. Bar knew this and turned the tables. After admitting his utter guilt to the charges laid against him the ceiling is literally blown off of the courthouse and the prison guards arm the rebels and teleport them to the scene. Bar has the Functionary bigwigs in a snare that will ensure that all the government’s heads will roll in one swing of the sword. No one is going to survive Bar’s coup, not even the innocents present. In his demeanor and his actions, Kid Flash does take on the crazed temper he’d be cast in leading up to these last two issues. It’s madness, but the question is whether it is a good kind of madness. What is happening seems very much like the French Revolution with the prison guards turning against their masters and opening the prisons in an all out breakdown of the system. I am very curious to see how this predicament pans out and how the crazy Kid Flash from this issue reconciles with the very grounded, moral version that perhaps only I saw in the last issue. With a character like Kid Flash it’s hard to believe he would get kamikaze’d like, that regardless of whether the title is getting cancelled in April or not. Scott Lobdell hasn’t let me down so far and has written this series superbly throughout the two and a half year run. Artist Tyler Kirkham is hitting it out of the park in the realm of art, really making this title a jewel in his resume. I’m onboard this train till it’s last stop two months from now. What a ride . . .

The Face of Teenage Revolution.

Talon #15 is yet another comic by Marguerite Bennett that I went into with high hopes, only to have them dashed. The issue has NO story. Yes, there is something resembling a plot, but at the end of the issue the reader is left with two questions: 1) What did I just read? 2) Why should I care? The plot (or what passes for one) begins with an African American Talon taking down William Cobb to become the Court of Owl’s new assassin. It should be noted that this Talon is male, meaning that it is not Strix, who came into her second life in the 50’s. The pacing of the issue is also very jarring, following the reverse order paradigm of Christopher Nolan’s seminal film, Memento. Slowly we work our way back through this guys life, and while the imagery is very depressing and often tragic, the rationale of why we are even hearing about this guy is not answered. This is a one-off for Bennett, the title will transition to Tim Seeley’s hands for it’s final two issues, so again the possibility that this is setting something up is dubious. There was even the possibility in my head that in some way this gentleman was a relative of Casey Washington, but due to the time period and the circumstances described this is just a nameless Talon we may never hear from again. Every time I come across a title that Marguerite Bennett writes I get a twinge. Maybe she’s good at writing her own material, but so far everything of hers I have read is her writing a one-shot issue of someone else’s property like her Batman Annual #2 last year, the TERRIBLE Lobo issue she wrote during Villains Month this September, and her lackluster Batgirl #25 in November. She’s writing two one-shots next month and both have me worried. Joker’s Daughter features the title character whom I do not care for one iota, so that sounds like a giant waste of money. Lois Lane is a horse of a different color, because that has the potential to be amazing . . . assuming the writer has the talent to actually pull it off. Lois Lane is a character that can be incredible, but can also be absolutely terrible if the writer doesn’t know what they are doing. Bennett does not instill faith. Also the artist on Lois Lane, Emanuela Lupacchino, is an up and coming talent and I’ve enjoyed her past work a great deal, so that is another reason Bennett’s authorship is troubling. No one wants to be the weakest link that breaks the chain, especially when that chain is Lois Lane, one of the most beloved female characters in comics and someone that fans have been screaming to have her own solo book. Marguerite Bennett said this of her controversial Lobo issue this past September:“You can hate me by Page Two. But if I do not have your attention by Page Four, you don’t have to read something of mine ever again.”
Well Ms. Bennett, you have until the last page of Lois Lane #1 to sell me that you can write anything. Then I am going to take you up on your previous offer.

Damian: Son of the Batman #4brings to a close Andy Kubert’s four issue miniseries dedicated to Damian Wayne, whom Kubert co-created with Grant Morrison. This series has been and continues to be a very Kubert-esque journey through the life of Batman. Joe Kubert, Andy’s father, had a very characteristic drawing style that influenced comic art for seventy years, but also a narrative style that is like no one else’s, past or present. Andy has definitely inherited his dad’s artistic style, but he also emotes the same incredible voice as a writer. Joe could have written this, but at the same time there is a darker edge that is all Andy. In a lot of ways that is something of which this comic is an allegory. Damian is taking over for his legendary father, Batman. In the first issue, even after the death of Batman (it’s actually Dick Grayson) he is reticent to take on the mantle of the Bat, but as events unfold he is thrust into becoming Batman, but a Batman on his terms. His father, who is still alive though quite old, chastises him for his wanton brutality which does get through to the young Wayne. But as this issue concludes and Damian actualizes himself as the new Dark Knight he takes on the role adhering closely to his father’s legacy and being Batman in the ways that matter, but also maintaining an element of his own identity while in the role. Now I don’t know if Joe and Andy had an idyllic relationship or a rocky one like Bruce and Damian in this series, but the parallels of Andy taking the reigns of continuing his father’s legendary name and legacy in the comics industry rings true to Damian’s struggle herein. As stated, Joe Kubert’s art can be found in elements of more than four generations of comic artists, but his writing style is far more rare and that is what Andy stands as a torchbearer to. Top to bottom, this was an incredible four issue miniseries and well worth reading for those that love and miss Damian Wayne.

Long Live the Batman!

Green Lantern Corps Annual #2 provides and extended format launch pad for the next major conflict in the Green Lantern family of books. The Durlans have been a problem over the past several months, but in this annual their threat begins to solidify. They have publicly discredited the Green Lantern Corps in front of the Universe, they have rallied the Corps’ enemies into simultaneous attacks on the Corps’ chapter houses throughout the 3600 sectors of Space, and they have drawn blood by blowing up the Corps’ command center on Mogo. Writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen give background into the Durlan threat by showing the horrific ruling council of the Durlan race called “the Ancients,” and gives voice to what the Ancients plan. What’s more, the annual primarily focuses on the Corps’ many iconic villains, i.e. Kanjar-Ro, Bolphunga the Unrelenting, Darkstar, etc., and gives short one to two page glimpses into each villain’s past with a moment that sums up their individual motivations. These are the worst of the worst who HATE the Corps, so what Venditti and Jensen do next is even more incredible. Faced with an alliance with the Durlans who none of them trust, this ragtag group of villains pull a 180 and align themselves with the Green Lanterns to take out the Durlan threat. It’s a tricky gambit and should make for one hell of an entertaining arc.

Earth 2 Annual #2 finally reveals the origin of the enigmatic Batman of Earth 2. Spoiler Alert, I am going to reveal the identity of Batman. I feel enough time has passed since the issue dropped that those that want to know already know, but if someone doesn’t, skip this review. This series started in Earth 2 #0 with the end days of the Apokalips Invasion of Earth 2 being thwarted by the Trinity (Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman) at the cost of their lives. So with Bruce Wayne dead, who is this new Batman and why is he doing what he is doing? The breadcrumbs and clues have been stacking up. Firstly, through his rhetoric and desire to free “dangerous” inmates of the Arkham cryostasis detention center we are shown that he could be considered a criminal and a monster. Secondly, while doing so he is revealed to have super-strength and a bulletproof hide. Thirdly, we are told that bioscans reveal him to be human. Finally, when he goes into the containment chambers and releases the inmates he opens the Joker’s tube only to shoot him in the head, revealing a VERY deep loyalty to Batman as a person, but not an adherence to his stringent codes against killing and using firearms. All of these paint a tantalizing riddle of who this person could be, opening the door for either a very interesting reinvention of a classic DC character or the introduction of a brand new one. The reveal was, I am sad to say, underwhelming. Batman is Dr. Thomas Wayne, father of Bruce Wayne, who faked his death and apparently became a junkie and a murderer out to take down mafiosi. Maybe in the long run this will be a decent development, but it just seemed really tired and unoriginal. Thomas Wayne as Batman was something novel that writer Brian Azzarello proposed in Flashpoint: Batman and wrote to perfection. In that title as well, Batman became something very dark and excessive in his crusade against crime, also adopting the use of firearms. However, Flashpoint Batman was the architect of the Batman persona following the death of 8 year old Bruce at the gunpoint of Joe Chill and the subsequent psychotic descent of his wife, Martha, into the persona of the Joker. In Earth 2 the use of Thomas as the new Batman just comes off as lazy from a writing standpoint. He uses guns, he’s got five o’clock shadow, he’s willing to kill, his costume is red and grey/black with sharper edges. There are too many similarities with not enough validating differences to make Thomas’ role in the book worthwhile. Now that may change, but the deadbeat dad concept, while tragic, falls flat for me. This is a shame as I have enjoyed the series, both under the helm of original writer James Robinson and the new authorship of Tom Taylor. Whether Thomas was Robinson’s idea or Taylor’s, the brunt of responsibility falls on Tom Taylor to make it work however possible.

A Father in the Shadows.

Worlds’ Finest Annual #1provides a look into the lives of three very important young women from Earth 2. The title Worlds’ Finest follows Helena Wayne, known as Robin on Earth 2 and Huntress on Earth 1, and Kara Zor-El, known as Supergirl on Earth 2 and Power Girl/Karen Starr on Earth 1. This annual showcases their lives as emergent heroes on Earth 2, as well as a brief glimpse at a third young woman whom readers of the series Earth 2 will no doubt recognize: Fury. Helena Wayne is of course the daughter of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and his wife Selena Kyle (Catwoman), and the first and so far only bearer of the mantle of Robin on Earth 2. As on Earth 1, Kara is the cousin of Superman and in most ways is identical to her Earth 1 counterpart. Fury is the enigma, as she is the daughter of Wonder Woman and an unrevealed father, and fights for Apokalips. In this way, the annual focuses on the female scions of the three great superheroes: Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Paul Levitz is just the writer to tackle this assignment considering his creation of Huntress in the 70’s and his incredible career writing thoughtful comics about uncertain youths flung head first into incredible circumstances. For proof of that assertion read any of his Legion of Super-Heroes books. The episodes depicted in this annual concerning Helena and Kara paint the two girls as novices making mistakes, but those early blunders juxtapose against the past two years worth of issues to show how they became the strong, confident women we have seen in the present. Fury is more cryptic in her portrayal by Levitz and no doubt that is because her origin and the revelation of her motivations are integrally keyed into the Earth 2 title. In any event, Levitz brings his A-game to these stories and spins into being three events that define the characters of these two dimensionally displaced heroines.

And thus concludes the first month of comics in 2014. Here’s hoping to many more awesome issues to fill out the coming eleven months.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these images and give credit to those whose work they are.

It has been a criminally long time since I have been able to sit down and interact with my comics in the form of writing this blog and externalizing my thoughts and appreciation for this incredible medium. With this post I hope to highlight a few of the issues that I have loved in that interim and get back in the swing of reading my comics and writing about them to illuminate their content to others, but also myself. So here goes:

Batman #25 tells the story of the Blackout in Gotham, but oddly enough doesn’t deal with the Riddler at all or explore the consequences of what he did. Instead, writer Scott Snyder uses the Blackout as a way of the emergent Batman finding an environment in which his skills and innate qualities find fallow ground to root themselves. Without the Blackout, Batman might have had to try harder to ingrain himself in the collective awareness of Gotham as a force for good and not just a crazy nutjob in a bat costume. However, as mentioned before, the Riddler is put on the back burner after blowing the Gotham City power grid and submerging the city into chaos in the midst of an impending tropical storm designated “Rene.” In his place, Batman sleuths a rash of bizarre . . . occurrences . . . in which victim’s bones grow uncontrollably like trees, bursting out of their bodies and leaving the carcass draped atop like a Christmas tree angel. With some inadvertent tips from future police commissioner James Gordon, Bruce learns that the serum used was designed by a former Wayne Enterprises scientist, Karl Helfren, aka Doctor Death. When he probes into Helfren’s past, Bruce also learns of an accomplice that will surely shock readers. The issue is certainly shrouded in mystery, beginning with a brief two page cut to US soldiers in Nigeria finding a door in the ground hidden in the middle of an arid plain and ending with those soldiers dead and their trucks on fire. How those scenes are rectified with the main narrative is an intriguing question. In the backup feature, Snyder and his protegee James Tynion IV write a tale of the Blackout told from the perspective of the average person, in this case a very young Harper Row and her little brother Cullen. The two kids don’t have a mother and their father is a two-bit criminal and absentee parent, so it falls to them to look out for one another. Cullen is scared, but Harper (who grows up to be a burgeoning electrical genius) makes a lamp for her brother to push back the darkness. It’s not easy, but she’s able to overcome when the needs arise. She tell Cullen that there are people out there that see fear and darkness and rise up to push these forces back and help those that are also scared. It’s a brief yet poignant commentary on the superhero ideal and what breeds heroes. Also noteworthy is Andy Clarke’s gorgeous artwork that creates a beautifully stark ambiance of Gotham life. It goes without saying that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, with the added help of James Tynion IV and Andy Clarke, are making this book one of THE comics to pick up.

What Makes a Hero?

Superman/Wonder Woman #2 brings on the much anticipated continuation of last month’s meteoric first issue. In Superman/Wonder Woman #1 writer Charles Soule delivered a very intimated and thoughtful examination of the relationship between two titanic figures of the DCU and the inherent hurdles they have to leap constantly in order to be together and understand one another. If that was all the issue was it would have been worth the cover price, but Soule and artist Tony Daniel had far more in store for us, releasing perhaps the greatest surprise appearance of the year: Doomsday! With Supes busy quelling a storm brought about by the monster’s advent, Wonder Woman finds herself going toe-to-toe with the abomination that in a different continuity killed her boyfriend. Not something to be trifled with. As this issue opens the Kryptonian horror delivers a sound beating on the unprepared Wonder Woman until it mysteriously phasing out of reality. When Superman hears her story he immediately knows what the thing was from Diana’s descriptions and realizes that the seals on the Phantom Zone, a temporal extra-dimensional Kryptonian prison, are wearing thin meaning incursions by Doomsday and the other unsavory menaces imprisoned within might occur more frequently. In order to prepare for the coming battle with Doomsday, should it reappear, Wonder Woman takes Superman to Mount Aetna to meet Hephaestas and commission custom armaments. While there Supes also meets Apollo and Strife. Apollo doesn’t make the best impression, following the very haughty modelling of Wonder Woman writer Brian Azzarello. I know I am not alone in my dislike of Apollo, which is what makes his encounter with Superman so rewarding to readers. Apollo is a very overconfident, arrogant ass and while he is IMMENSELY powerful, his being the sun god puts him at a unique disadvantage against the Last Son of Krypton. One almost feels sorry for the jerk. Almost. With their order placed and one Olympian force fed a five fingered slice of humble pie, the stage is set for yet another mouthwatering introduction of a classic Superman character. Soule and Daniel have this series locked down. Soule’s writing is topnotch and shows a true love and respect for both the eponymous characters. Superman is a humble farmboy with powers far greater than ordinary men and Wonder Woman is a proud and noble woman from a proud and noble race of myth. Every word, every gesture, and every reaction is quintessentially appropriate to each. Tony Daniel has been one of my favorite artist since he and Grant Morrison took on the Batman title. As a writer I have enjoyed his work as well. The man is a consummate professional and whether or not he has any say in the actual writing of Superman/Wonder Woman alongside Charles Soule, his ability as a writer no doubt helps him interpret the scripts to convey minutely the gravity and grandeur of the worlds this book is bringing together. Wonder Woman and Superman come from two very elaborate time honored mythologies that Soule and Daniel are combining like true professionals. This first run of the series is off to a commendable start. If they can sustain it, this could overshadow the actual series of both characters.

The Hubris of Gods.

Batgirl #25 came off a little lackluster for me. Dealing with the life of Barbara Gordon, it’s hard to figure out what the purpose of this issue was supposed to be. It’s already established that Gotham was effed during the “Blackout” and in this tie-in Barbara is put in charge of her little brother, James Jr, while their dad’s at work. He tells her to “mind the homestead,” but while he is gone the Gordon kids are forcefully evacuated because they are in a flood zone. In the process young Miss Gordon sees how a disaster can turn regular people into savages. The point of the issue is more about Gotham than Barbara, which is a little disconcerting. Normally the Batgirl series focuses heavily on Barbara, which is a credit to series writer Gail Simone’s tenure on the title. Simone GETS Barbara in a very quintessential way. Marguerite Bennett penned this one, and I think as a newcomer her writing comes off a little green. She kind of fumbled the Villains Month released introduction of the character Lobo to the New DCU, and this comic felt equally forced. The look remains the same with series artist Fernando Pasarin providing art on the issue. Simone comes back next month with the conclusion of her epic “Batgirl Wanted” arc, which should be worth the read.

Green Arrow #26 begins writer Jeff Lemire’s epic “Outsiders War” arc. In his first arc, Lemire DRASTICALLY altered Oliver Queen’s life, taking away his company, framing him for murder, and clearing the board of a few characters from the initial issues of the rebooted series. He also introduced the Merlyn-esque archer, Komodo, and the inklings of the larger organization Komodo belongs to called the Outsiders. In his second arc he introduced the rarely utilized GA character, Shado, unused extensively since her creation in the 80’s by Mike Grell. Komodo and Shado represent two halves of the life and ultimate death of Oliver’s father, Robert Queen. With those in the rearview, we now enter into the actualization of Green Arrow’s destiny with Lemire’s third arc, entitled “Outsiders War.” So far, Ollie has taken down Komodo (relieving the onyx archer of one eye) and on two separate occasions he’s taken down the Eastern European despot Count Vertigo. Both of these men have strong ties to the Outsiders who themselves have very ominous plans for the Arrow Clan. Now Shado is taking him back to the island to fulfill his destiny by claiming the totem arrow that will grant enlightenment and dominion of those dedicated to archery. Robert Queen sought the island and combed every inch of it looking for the arrow, explaining the picture that Oliver found of Robert, Komodo, and Emerson on the island in the lattermost’s office. Shado drags him back and as the issue unfolds Lemire has Oliver slowly relive his time there. His reticence to return can be summed up by the harsh memories he accumulated while stranded and his shame at being reminded of his past. Ollie was a vacuous waste of space before being washed up on the island and his initial days there were spent shedding that shallowness and tapping into his intrinsic potential. Robert had instructed Oliver in archery, which Ollie’d never taken serious and rarely practiced. Those lessons resurface and the birth of Green Arrow began while Oliver discovered the cost of survival. The next step will be seen in later issues following Ollie’s capture by mercenaries in ski-masks. Awakening from his deja-vu, Shado leads Oliver to the cave wherein lies the talisman his father had so desperately sought. Meanwhile, the Outsiders have sent one of their own, a bear of a man called Kodiak, to stop Oliver from becoming the head of the Arrow Clan by claiming the “Green Arrow” totem. Jeff Lemire’s hitting this one out of the park with his clear love and respect for the character of Green Arrow and his intricate weaving of a mythos that emanates from Green Arrow, but also through the Green Arrow title. The Outsiders have figured cryptically into the background of the Katana series, where the Japanese warrior Tatsu Toro wrestles with the Sword Clan. Whether Lemire came up with them on his own or collaborated with Katana writer Ann Nocenti (from whom he took over the horribly written and conceived Green Arrow title) what is obvious is that Lemire is the one running this ball into the endzone for what looks to be a clear touchdown. The promise of what the Outsiders represent and the stories that will spring forth from this arc are destined to be comic book gold. Series artist Andrea Sorrentino continues his tenure on the book adding a realism to it with his pencil and an ominousness with the very stark contrast between light and shadow. Working together, Lemire and Sorrentino are the ideal team to make Green Arrow one of the best DC titles currently being published.

The Fabled Green Arrow Totem.

Green Arrow #27 continues writer Jeff Lemire’s odyssey toward Green Arrow’s actualization in the “Outsiders War.” So far Ollie has returned to the island on which he was marooned with the enigmatic archeress Shado in tow seeking the totem arrow that bestows enlightenment upon the ascendant to the chiefdom of the Arrow Clan. The Outsiders (semi-unified cabal of clan heads) desire Komodo to take this position in their midst and dispatch the Shield Clan’s chief, Kodiak, and his Viking warriors to prevent Ollie from his destined enlightenment. Picking up with the dramatic ending of issue #26, Ollie and Shado have found the Arrow Chamber, but as this issue opens they find that the totem itself is nowhere to be seen. Ollie is shocked, but Shado, true to her fox-like, Zen nature tempers Ollie’s impatience with existential questions, all boil down to why and how Oliver came to be marooned on this exact island that his father, Robert Queen, had just so happened to be seeking for so long and upon which the elder Mr. Queen was murder by Komodo? The exploration of these questions is interrupted by the advent of Kodiak on the island and sporadic ’Nam flashbacks Ollie has to the crucible moments of his time on the island. Issue #26’s flashbacks showed Ollie being forced to master archery in order to feed himself while awaiting rescue from the island. The completion of that stage of his development ends with him being captured by masked paramilitary forces on the island. This issue shows the next and most apocalyptic stage of his transition from soft billionaire playboy to cold hunter/vigilante. The soldiers under the command of an Oni-masked man torture Ollie for over a week until Ollie snaps and in a survivalist act breaks through from his effete past to the stark figure he has become in the present. While dodging the Shieldlings and regrouping Shado finally steers Ollie into understanding that his destiny wasn’t mere chance, but an orchestrated effort by individuals to guide him to becoming the avatar of archery. Once this concept sinks in, Oliver’s Oni-masked antagonist reappears and confirms everything Shado said and removes the demon mask. With the revelation of this person’s identity the absolute truth of their claim is baldly underscored, but more so the implications of who this person is changes everything the reader has come to believe about the Green Arrow title and what its has fought for. Jeff Lemire is a genius. Unequivocally, he has taken this failing title and made it infinitely poignant, gripping, and one of the ‘can’t miss books’ of the DC lineup. Called “Batman with a Bow and Arrow,” GA has been a C-list character with no superpowers who has often times been overshadowed by the more super, more overtly heroic characters of the DCU. Only a few writers have been able to lift him above the camp and ridiculousness that have haunted the character since his inception. Jeff Lemire has earned his place in Green Arrow history. Lemire’s collaborator Andrea Sorrentino provides incredible artwork that in no small part makes this book so engrossing and visually stunning. The two look to be on the title for some time and that is good news for comic readers and the Green Arrow pantheon of characters.

The Bloody Baptism of Green Arrow.

Superman Unchained #5 is a turning point in this celebratory “Super” series, revealing not only the nature of the enigmatic cabal known as “Ascension,” but also what their overall motivations, prompting their insane actions thus far. At the conclusion of issue #4 the leader of Ascension told Lois Lane that General Sam Lane was “father” to both of them. This turns out to not only be twisted hyperbole, but also a straight up lie no matter how you look at it. One demerit to writer Scott Snyder. Through the exposition provided by the Ascension leader, Jonathan Rudolph, Lois Lane and the audience are given incontrovertible evidence that this man isn’t merely misguided, HE’S NUTS!!! The choice of fabled Ned Ludd as the “face” of their movement is apt considering that the group’s aims have been stated to be the downfall of technology with an anarchist rationale behind it. The self-righteous rhetoric of Rudolph does nothing to rectify the collateral damage his insane venture will rain down on humanity nor does it in anyway come off as anything but uber-petulant and misguided. Rarely nowadays are there examples of such clear cut psychopaths in leading comic titles. Usually some sort of ethos, pathos, or logos is there to somehow give a morally ambiguous justification to the “villainy.” The use of this kind of character is intriguing and either says something very good about Snyder’s writing or something very bad about it. Snyder is an amazing writer that has risen meteorically to the top of the comic field in a relatively short period of time. He is also an overtaxed talent that is writing several titles simultaneously, so it could go either way. The rest of the title features Superman continuing his emerging relationship with the proto-‘Superman’, Wraith. In order to continue their quest to locate and stop Ascension, Supes invites Wraith into his Fortress of Solitude. Superman represents an impartial, unbiased, non-jingoist superheroic doctrine. Wraith represents the exact opposite and has TOTALLY drunk the US military Kool-Aid. Just being in the Fortress elicits a philosophical debate about alien technology and who should have custodianship of it: an impartial, responsible individual or the armed forces of one sovereign nation over the nearly two hundred others. Superman has the moral high ground here, but Wraith cuts back with an equally poignant response involving Superman’s supposed “non-involvement” vis-à-vis his alternate persona of Clark Kent. In this way, Superman represents what the character should embody and Wraith portrays what Supes was made to be like from the 1950’s through to most of the 70’s, towing the company line and representing “Truth, Justice, and the American way.” Visibly absent from the first four issues is the looming figure of Lex Luthor awaiting the resolution of Superman’s battle with Ascension to pounce on the battle wearied Man of Steel. Introduced in this issue is a flashback, drawn by backup artist Dustin Nguyen, that details Clark’s encounter with a sauced up, ignorant farmer that finds out his secret and tells him at shotgun-point that he can’t hide. Though only seen in glimpses and lacking resolution, this flashback underscores brilliantly the constant dilemma Superman faces everyday by living among us as one of us. Snyder has created in five issues a multifaceted series that expertly explores the character and all the aspects that have carried over from the original issues 75 years past. Scott Snyder and artists Jim Lee and Dustin Nguyen have tapped into the pure essence of the Last Son of Krypton.

Teen Titans #26 finally reveals the story of Bart Allen after two and a half years of continuous storytelling. We’ve been told in the past that he was a dangerous criminal that was reconditioned and sent back into the past where he would be cut off from the dangerous elements he incited. Several months ago when the Titans were first thrown into the timestream Bart and his girlfriend, Kiran Singh (aka Solstice), witness his younger self attempting to commit an act of mass murder against the governmental body known as the ‘Functionary.’ Now after returning to his native time he is made to see everything he has forgotten after being taken back into custody by the Functionary. After looking at his past I am finding it hard to look at him as anything as terrifying as he has been painted out of context. The son of religious parents belonging to a Christian-like faith called Creationism, his parents were murdered for those beliefs. He lets his parents die in order to save his infant sister, Shira, and get her away from the Functionary “Purifiers” that are initiating pogroms against his people. He becomes a thief to provide for his sister and when she is imperilled he becomes a killer. He finds sanctuary for her in a safe quarter while undertaking smuggling missions in unsafe conditions that normally killed the pilots after three runs. Bart makes a couple of dozen until his number finally comes up, but when it does he doesn’t die, but rather attains the superpowers that connect him to the Speed Force and Barry Allen. Then he initiates the rebellion of the Functionary oppressed that led to his capture and exile. It wasn’t until his attacks almost killed Shira, that he abandoned the rebellion he started and turned himself in to the Functionary. I have to say that this origin, while very compelling, failed to depict him as a criminal. At least in my eyes. Everything Bart did was for others. He sacrificed everything for his sister and later for those like himself and his sister who were like rats being oppressed and constantly harried for no reason whatsoever except that their existence was inconvenient for those above them. There was no Justice League or any apparatus to help the downtrodden so he initiated an armed resistance movement to create a better future. As stated before there was a scene not fully fleshed out where he was going to do something alluded to being an atrocity. If writer Scott Lobdell wanted to justifiably depict Bart as a monster he should have given more weight to that moment with more details or circled back around in this issue to that moment or one like it. That isn’t to say that Lobdell is a bad writer. On the contrary. This issue made me feel for Bart and actually I am in his cheering section. He looks at himself as a monster, just like all the others who have knowledge of who he was (or will be), but I don’t see that and I still see a hero who puts others and their interests before his own. If I could actually talk to the character I would share with him the words of Barry Allen, the first Flash (in the New DCU): “Keep moving forward.” Lobdell knocks it out of the park with the help of new series artist Tyler Kirkham. Kirkham’s art is sharp, it’s vibrant, and his rendering of Bart gives fine detail to every evocative emotion the young hero feels, which once again roots the character in Kid Flash’s experience, making them feel exactly what he feels, enduring his pain as he struggles through unspeakable situations and revelling in his rare moments of triumph bore out of near constant suffering. Thumbs up to both Lobdell and Kirkham. This issue was worth the wait, if not shorter than such an immense story deserves.

Doubt Anything Except a Brother’s Love.

Talon #14 marks an end to the status quo under which the series has been proceeding since its #0 issue. Calvin Rose was made a Talon after being groomed for the task by the Court of Owls as a young escape artist in the famed Haly’s Circus. He quit after being sent to kill a beautiful security heiress and her young daughter. Going on the lam with her, he developed a relationship with her, which he broke to protect her from the Court’s endless search for their missing “toy.” While on the run, Calvin meets a man whose life was destroyed by the Court as well. Sebastian Clark. Clark helps Calvin hit the Court HARD, crippling much of their infrastructure. In this guided crusade against their common enemy, Calvin meets up again with his former girlfriend, Casey Washington, and her daughter Sarah. Soon after it comes out that Sebastian Clarke did in fact have his life destroyed by the Court, but it was because he was the disgraced head of the Court at the time of Batman’s interference and the fabled “Night of Owls.” Danger literally lurks in all directions and Calvin is beset with daunting odds. His immediate challenges include Sarah’s kidnapping and subsequent brainwashing by the Court, Clarke has a plan afoot to raze Gotham, and a serum has been injected into his bloodstream that melts necrotic tissue, i.e. his entire body. To a lesser extent Batman has harried most of Calvin’s moves, because no one operates in the Bat’s backyard without his say-so. However, despite the insurmountable obstacles Calvin is very much like the classic Jack Kirby creation, Mister Miracle. Both are master escape artists, and like Miracle, Calvin will not be deterred by any odds, even if Batman is counted among them. With the conclusion of this issue the Court of Owls still exist, but they are once again weakened and the more pressing threats to fair Gotham put to bed for good. Calvin’s main objectives are accomplished, but his journey toward ending the Owls’ reign continues, albeit under new circumstances and with new allies. Writer James Tynion has taken the concept of the Court of Owls and made good use of it with the fifteen issues of this series he has written.

Batman Inc Just Got a Little Bit Cooler.

Red Lanterns #26 after the big fight between Relic and the remaining Lanterns of all colors, the Reds were given authority of Sector 2814, which contains our solar system. To demonstrate their authority they attempt to take out one of the greatest evils of our Sector in the form of a despot named Marshal Gensui. Gensui has enslaved the secondary race of his world and used them as slave labor to build a sphere around their sun to harness its energies to use for his own ends. Going up against the forces of the planet Kormorax the Red Lanterns, under the command of Guy Gardner are in hot water. Marshal Gensui has made a career of culling rage, using his intimidation tactics and scientific acumen he has pacified the brutalized masses he exploits. With those same technologies he pacifies the Red Lanterns, the angriest individuals in the universe. With that taken into account, writer Charles Soule concludes the two issue arc with an examination of the kinds of rage that exist and how each type fits various situations in better ways. Peter Milligan, the original Red Lanterns writer did this very well in the past, making a point of highlighting tertiary Red Lanterns who weren’t as popular and whose backstories haven’t found their way into past issues. One Red, the ox-skulled Skallox, was a murder and a scoundrel sent up the river by his boss as a liability, another named Ratchet was an individual living in an isolationist, dystopian nightmare that craved interaction and was imprisoned and mercilessly tortured for years as a result. Yet again Soule highlights two lesser Red Corpsman and their individual brands of rage to show the strength of each. Zilius Zox takes a lead role in these issues, but Ratchet once again shines above the rest. While he and his fellow Reds are in a stupefied, euphoric haze due to Gensui’s crowd control technologies Ratchet is able to throw off the stupor with his rage, despite the most powerfully ravenous Reds being unable. What really highlights his character, and it a lot of ways finishes what Milligan began in that bygone issue, was the totality of Ratchet’s capabilities. Ratchet wasn’t a bad guy. He wanted friendship and comaraderie and his inability to do so was what fueled his rage. Being a Red Lantern gave him his hearts desires so slowly his rage was subsiding, which meant that he wouldn’t be able to wield the ring, which also meant that the ring would no longer be able to keep him alive as it did all Red Lanterns whose blood is replaced with a napalm fluid of refined hate. He was dying no matter what happened, and what he accomplishes in this issue not only expedites that end before prolonged suffering, it also made an enduring place in the hearts and minds of his fellow Corpsmen. Soule inherited a vast legacy from Peter Milligan and has made proper use of it, penning a fantastic series.

So ends an abbreviated catchup to the weeks missed in my absence. Check back to this post periodically as I will probably take on some other issues that are of note.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these images and give credit to those whose work they are.

Villains Month is over and October ushers in a return to the deferred storylines of August. Right out of the starting gate there are some fantastic issues that prove the power and momentum that DC and Vertigo have built over the past several months. Forever Evil, Action Comics, Detective Comics, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Batman: Black & White, and Trillium really bring it this month in action, intrigue, and history altering glory.

Forever Evil #2 continues with our Earth’s decent into chaos as the Crime Syndicate of America from Earth-3 take it for their own. In the literal shadow of their advent, our world’s darkest minds flock to them in droves to get what bounty the CSA will grant them in return for their service–Malum Aeturnus–and those few heroes left alive rally to meet the Syndicate in battle. The most intriguing case between these two camps is perhaps the most dangerous man from Earth-1: Lex Luthor. Opening this issue, Lex delivers a very thought-provoking interpretation of Darwinism that sets him apart from both the opportunistic villains and “cowardly” masses that accept drastic change idly. In this way he either proves his mettle as humanity’s savior, filling the position he begrudged Superman for occupying these past several years, or simply demonstrating his intractable individualism and anyone that tries to cast their shadow on him. In this case, the shadow cast is both literal and metaphorical. As ever, you want to hate him until he does something very noble, at which point you then want to love him until he come full circle to being despicable yet again. Either way, his goals in toppling the CSA from their haughty perch and prying their hegemonic grip from humanity’s throats forces him into the role of protagonist. His competition is getting slimmer and slimmer as Forever Evil progresses and heroes fall left and right. Between Justice League #23 and Forever Evil #1, the Crime Syndicate dropped the entire Justice League, and seemingly the Justice League Dark and JLA, leaving Earth without their greatest heroes. Next, in the opening movements of Forever Evil #1 the first protegé of Batman and most senior surviving hero, Nightwing, is subdued and captured by Owlman. After that the Teen Titans, basically the junior Justice League, step up to the plate only to fall to the wayside. I won’t spoil the surprise, but they too fall short of matching the Syndicate’s mettle, and really are defeated by only one member of the evil cabal, leaving Luthor as one of the top contenders to take down the Earth-3 invaders. However, in the periphery other “villains” from Villains Month are stepping up, showing their innate humanity or their inability to be cowed by the whims of others. Black Adam rises in Kahndaq and the Rogues have the Syndicate’s forces in Central City on their heels, so on at least three fronts there is hope. However, the real threat to the Syndicate, made very clear in this issue is themselves. As ever, Ultraman (evil Superman) has to be the biggest, baddest guy on the block and lords his perfection over the others, Owlman (evil Batman) schemes in the shadows and secretly cuckolds the Earth-3 Krpytonian by sleeping with his wife, Superwoman (evil Wonder Woman). Johnny Quick (evil Flash) and his lover, Atomica (evil female Atom), are uncontrollable forces of destruction that do not play by anyone’s rules, least of all Ultraman. Power Ring (soooort of evil Green Lantern) is perhaps the greatest question mark as he is a terrified weakling that so far hasn’t done anything and doesn’t want to. In any event, the evil Justice League of Earth-3 are the greatest threat to themselves, with conflicting plans for our world, conflicting philosophies in general, and outright vendettas against each other. With the end of this issue there are some crazy reveals that beg for the third installment and keep the reader on their toes. First and foremost, David Finch’s art is superb and his harsh lines belie the evil nature of the subject material. But beneath the very heavily inked lines there is a subtle, gentleness and beauty that shines through. He was the best choice to render this script visually. I have been very antagonistic of Geoff Johns’ writing since he began the New DCU two years ago and mismanaged title after title that he has written, such as Justice League, it’s SHAZAM! backup feature, and a few others I won’t pontificate upon. However, this series gets back to what he does well: villains. Sinestro, the Rogues in The Flash, Black Adam in 52. These are all characters that were two-dimensional at best that he made into complex, compelling antiheroes. This series features the concept of eternal darkness and absolute evil and shows by contrast the natures of the DCU’s villains. Many pale in comparison, and like Lex, show signs of valor despite their many, usually glaring flaws. Forever Evil is marketed as the first imprint wide event and it deserves to be. This is a title that will live on and in some ways validate the atrociously wretched job Johns did on the first arcs of Justice League.

They Did a Bad, Bad Thing . . .

Action Comics #24picks up the second part of the “Psi War” storyline after the events of Superman Annual #2 and Superman #23. So far, it has been revealed that Brainiac left some hidden mementos when he attacked Metropolis in Action Comics #1-7. After abducting a segment of the city and shriniking it, he altered twenty people within, who became an urban legend aptly called, “The Twenty.” The Twenty were mentally enhanced to test the augmentation of humans to fit a very specific purpose: providing physical hosts for the digitized “souls” of Brainiac’s extinct race, the Coluans. In the aftermath, Lois Lane is transformed by one of the Twenty into such a vessel shortly before being launched out a window and put into a coma. From there we were introduced to the “Queen,” a nubile blond bombshell that bathes in a golden liquid, seemingly generated by the psychic drones in the H.I.V.E. One such drone, the escaped Dr. Psycho, was first seen in Superboy. Also from Superboy is the reinterpreted, reintroduced character, Psycho Pirate. In the past, Psycho Pirate was a masked man whose bizarre harlequin mask gives him the ability to exploit people’s emotions. This time around the mask he wears is an artifact called the Medusa mask, which true to the imagery its name elicits has numerous psychically generated snakes coming off of it. The mask allows this man, also a member of the Twenty, to control not just the emotions but also enter the mind of any person on the planet he wishes. At the end of Superman #23 it is the Psycho Pirate that rescues Superman from the Queen and the massively disproportioned Green Lantern villain, Hector Hammond. He takes Supes into the main chamber of the H.I.V.E. to show him the collection of psionic slaves the Queen called her “Swarm.” The Swarm was what she was going to use to enslave humanity for the second coming of Brainiac. Psycho Pirate was one of those slaves, kept in a place of honor with several other members of the Twenty. It is his goal to free all of them, but to break the hold the departed Queen has on them Psycho Pirate needs more power than he and the mask he wears allow him. That is where Superman comes in. Superman’s enhanced biology also allows his mind enhanced psionic output, even though the Man of Steel doesn’t know how to utilize it. He’d help out the Psycho Pirate if he asked, but of course that would be too easy. Instead Psycho Pirated lives up to his name and takes what he needs by force. The psionic snakes from the mask bite into Superman at various points on his body like asps and inject him with venomous visions of some of Superman’s darkest fears: humanity turning fully against him, his adoptive parents the Kents despising him, and never leaving his dying homeworld of Krypton. Through these intense visions and horrifying sights Psycho Pirate feeds off his emotions, as his former self, pre-Reboot, used to. Though Scott Lobdell is given cover credit, it is actually Mike Johnson, who also wrote Superman #23 (“Psi War” Part 1), who did the honors on this one. It’s hard to say whether “Psi-War” is Lobdell’s “brain child” (pun intended) or Johnson’s, considering that Johnson has written the only two official installments with no internal credits or nods to Lobdell, but Lobdell wrote the prelude in Superman Annual #2, so . . . Either way, the writing and set up are stellar, as is the artwork depicting it, rendered by Tyler Kirkham and Jesus Merino. Superman had a ROUGH start at the beginning of the New 52 with some atrocious storytelling, but Action Comics, Superman, Superboy, and Supergirl are all top-notch titles at present. This issue encapsulates all of that incredible innovation perfectly.

All the Queen’s Men

Detective Comics #24 concludes the “Wrath” storyline begun three months ago, but held up by Villains Month. Beginning with a slimy business mogul named E.D. Caldwell attempting to buy out Wayne Enterprises, Bruce Wayne has to contend with that situation leaving Batman to deal with a hi-tech cop killer called “Wrath” who bears a likeness, albeit greatly intensified and armored, to Batman. Of course, these two antagonists in Batman’s life are one and the same and Caldwell wants to gain WayneTech weaponry to add to his arsenal in his crusade against the Gotham City Police Department. This concept, it turns out, is actually a redux of a character first created in the 80’s by Mike Barr and resurrected in 2008 by Tony Bedard. The character’s name was Elliot Caldwell and his parents were gunned down by Gotham cops leaving him with a burning rage for Gotham’s finest. In this way, the mirror-darkly image of Batman called Wrath provides a polar opposite version of the Dark Knight. Batman does have many nemeses that are opposite to him in some way, the Joker’s manic escapades being the most obvious. However, Wrath is literally the flip version of Batman’s birth. Young Bruce Wayne’s parents were gunned down by a criminal named Joe Chill and through the trauma that event evoked in his young mind he was set on an inescapable course to punish criminals and stamp out criminality. Caldwell saw his parents gunned down by police at an equally young age as Bruce and as a result he grew up with a festering hatred for police and law enforcement, constantly seeking vengeance to assuage that child’s anger. In this issue Layman makes the cops that killed Caldwell’s father corrupt and the slaying of his father unjustified. In this way, he isn’t just a straight psychopath, but a boy with real, valid grievances that are twisted by “Unbridled Wrath,” which also happens to be the title of this issue. Though he is subdued in this final issue of the arc, the damage incurred during his rampage is considerable and his defeat gives fodder to future villainy with his introduction at the end to another up and coming Gotham mega-villain. John Layman and Jason Fabok knock this issue out of the park with some intense storytelling that is both powerful and resonating.

Green Lantern #24 begins the MASSIVE “Lights Out” storyline, not to be confused with the “Blackout” storyline coming up in Batman and throughout several DC titles. Though the character Relic has only been in comics five months, he has already cemented himself as one of the most titanic characters in the Green Lantern mythos. He first appeared in the tail end of June’s Green Lantern: New Guardians #21 and from there crusaded against White Lantern Kyle Rayner, Star Sapphire Carol Ferris, and the newly emancipated Templar Guardians under the auspices of “saving the universe,” though failing to elaborate on that point. So great was his belief in his righteous cause, he went to the new homeworld of the Blue Lantern Corps, Elpis, and laid waste to it, the Blue Lantern Central Power Battery, and the Corps itself, leaving Saint Walker the last surviving Blue Lantern. Representing Hope, the Blue Lanterns have had their faith pushed the breaking point. First the Reach destroyed their original home on Odym, forcing an exodus to Elpis. Now the seemingly unstoppable Relic has destroyed their new world and them. Their hope is undiminished to the end as they give their unconscious chief Lantern, Walker, to Kyle and Carol and stay behind on their world to hold off Relic as long as they can and sacrifice their lives to maintain . . . Hope. As stated, Relic was very terse about his motivations throughout his initial interactions in our universe. With his appearance in Green Lantern #23.1 we get his entire history and a clearer picture of his motivations. When living in the universe that preceded the Big Bang and the creation of our current universe Relic was a scientist whose brilliance and council helped the “lightsmiths” co-exist and govern that universe. There was always tension between the various lights and he worked to keep the peace, but also came to realize that the light they so wantonly used was a finite resource, the depletion of which would result in a cataclysm of untold proportions. His words went unheeded and indeed the universe collapsed in on itself and was forced to begin anew with the advent of our universe. He somehow was protected in the anomaly from which he emerged in Green Lantern: New Guardians #21 and upon emerging realized that he would need to stop the “lightsmiths” of this universe to prevent history from repeating itself. Being that he was shunned in his universe, he eschews the possibility of explaining his actions to the new light-wielders and merely enacts his plans. He destroyed the Blue Lanterns. With this issue of Green Lantern he descends on Oa and the Green Lantern Corps. The fight proves to be just as futile as that which the Blue Lanterns provided. The question of defeating Relic isn’t even posed, but rather asking whether the Green Lanterns can survive him. Robert Venditti seems to be the architect of this “Lights Out” concept and considering the material that he had to follow after Geoff Johns’ blowout finale of a legendary eight year run, he is really bringing his A-game to the table. This is perhaps the biggest thing that has EVER occurred in the Green Lantern titles, even bigger than Johns’ “Wrath of the First Lantern” storyline, which itself was unprecedented in scale. Billy Tan’s artwork keeps pace with the monumental events chronicled within, emoting the tragic wonder and epic grandeur of all that is happening in the Green Lantern universe. They promoted this event by saying, “Nothing will ever be the same again! Trust us: WE MEAN IT!” That trust is earned with the unbelievable events of the last two pages of this issue. If you are a Green Lantern fan, READ THEM!

An “Earth” Shattering Developement . . .

Green Arrow #24does not disappoint. This issue picks up after the September hiatus with Ollie Queen on his way home from Vlatava after saving the enigmatic Shado from Count Vertigo’s dungeon. During that month off writer Jeff Lemire and artist Andrea Sorrentino used Villains Month to give a look into the past of Green Arrow’s newest nemesis. With Vertigo’s past now revealed, Lemire sends Ollie and company back to Seattle only for them to run back into the path of the Eastern European dictator. After their last encounter Vertigo’s distortion device ruptured GA’s inner ear, essentially throwing off his balance and his aim, taking a hero whose main skill is archery and invalidating it. What is left? Even his closest friends and allies are dubious as to whether he has anything viable left that could allow him victory over Vertigo. This issue is written as though Ollie were a real person and Lemire his biographer. Ollie is flawed and fallible, but has deep wellsprings upon which he draws in times like his current predicament that make him worthy of his own comic title. He may be an effete rich man, but he doesn’t solve his problems with money. At least he doesn’t anymore, after DC put a competent writer on the title going onward from issue #17. Lemire also writes the supporting cast of characters with equal complexity. Shado is a prime example in this issue. Previously, she has always been depicted as a very veiled, Zen warrior embodying eastern philosophy, the feminine mystique, and complete oneness with the martial arts. In short, she is a fox-like character that is always a step ahead of Ollie and most other characters and rarely caught off guard. This issue continues that depiction to a point, but stresses that she is an acolyte of the Arrow clan, meaning a master of archery. Lemire has set up a group called the Outsiders (not the previous Batman created group pre-Reboot) that are comprised of heirs to the various disciplines: arrow, sword, axe, spear, fist. Shado is an unparalleled archer. When she comes up against a true practitioner of the Fist (also a rebooted character from DC’s past) she is shown to lack true mastery of the other disciplines and is revealed to be human and have very real weaknesses. It’s the humanizing aspect of his storylines as well as the mythologies that spring from them that make this series soar. One thing also that separates this title from others is the way it adhere’s to the surrounding climate of the DCU. Villains Month was enjoyable, but a total ratings stunt to sell more issues and get people excited about buying comics they normally wouldn’t. The month-long PR event was jarring to most series, causing a MAJOR disruption in storytelling, but not for Green Arrow which took it and used it to seamlessly continue the title’s forward momentum. Next month there is another imprint wide event called “Blackout” taking place around the “Batman: Year Zero” storyline in the Batman title where apparently there is a massive blackout in Gotham six years prior when Batman first dons his cowl and all the titles are going back and having “pre-hero” versions of their respective protagonists living their lives through this blackout and miraculously being in Gotham during it. Again, jarring and implausible. Before this issue’s end, Lemire has already set events up in such a way that you’d believe that Batman was having a “Blackout” event because of Green Arrow and not the other way around. That’s talent! In the realm of visuals, Andrea Sorrentino’s artwork was meant for a title like this and his Green Arrow is the only one I want to look at for the foreseeable future.

A Battle of Two Dragons.

Batwing #24depicts Luke Fox’s continued trials and tribulations while donning the Batwing armor. It’s not just being Batwing that is difficult, but balancing that life with a full family life. Bruce Wayne has a very detached life, allowing him great anonymity to fit his nocturnal lifestyle. Luke is a part of a very loving, close-knit family and distancing himself from his family when they are in need is not an option. Following his father, Lucius Fox’s kidnapping and his subsequent rescue, Luke finds himself torn three ways. Batman and his allegiance to the Batname force Luke to follow-up on the assassin Lady Vic, sent by an enigmatic client to off some “bats.” His family need him close as they recover from mechanized assassins blowing up most of their home and abducting Lucius. His former girlfriend Zena’s father passes away and needs his support as she copes with her loss. A veritable labyrinth, but somehow in this issue Luke navigates it. I am beginning to forgive this title for its abrupt about-face. I maintain that it is complete nonsense to take the Batman of Africa and bring him back to the United States, and Gotham no less, where there are literally dozens of costumed vigilantes, and 75% of them in the Bat-family. However, writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray are doing interesting things with Luke, so for the time being I will hold back my indignation and acknowledge that this is a very well written Bat-title.

Earth 2 #16reaches a fever pitch. Writer James Robinson is only onboard for a few more issues and he is pushing his story to the limits. The war between Steppenwolf and the World Army has begun and despite the size of their force, the World Army finds themselves on the losing side. Steppenwolf almost singlehandedly defeats the brunt of the World Army invasion force. On the sidelines the World Army “supers” (Atom Smasher, Red Arrow, and Sandman) meet with the independent wonders (Green Lantern, Flash, and Doctor Fate) on the outskirts of Dherain. They initially fight it out until the three “Hunger Dogs” of Apokalips (Bedlam, Beguiler, and Bruutal) step in and wipe the floor with all of them. When this issue returns attention to them, they awaken from this beat down bruised, but alive! The question on all of their mind, “Why were they spared when they could have easily been killed and taken out of the game?” There is no answer expressly given, but in the meantime they get back up and attempt to evacuate civilians from the war zone after the World Army officially calls a retreat. Green Lantern goes to take out his rage on Steppenwolf and buy his friends some time. Steppenwolf isn’t going to be taken down, or at least not by Alan Scott. He SOUNDLY defeats the Green Lantern raising the question of whether Scott will survive this round like he did the last or if this is the end for Earth’s Green Guardian. However, in his gloating of this day’s victory Steppenwolf DOES meet his end and the identity of the person who takes him down and the rationale behind it is what cements this issue as a MUST READ for the month and possibly the ENTIRE series! James Robinson is riding the clock on this one, coming to his end of his run very quickly, and he is making every second count. As ever, Nicola Scott’s artwork contributes mightily to the impact of this issue and the series thus far, on which she has been on from issue #1 and drawn the majority of issues with only a handful of exceptions. This series definitely needs to be read through the end of Robinson’s run and possibly further.

Superman’s “Dark-Side.”

Swamp Thing #24 returns Alec Holland, chosen Swamp Thing, back to his investigation into the identity of the man called “The Seeder.” Since Charles Soule has taken over the title he has focused on the divide between Holland’s humanity and his duty to the Green. These two motivations tear him in two different directions, often causing existential crises which he must navigate very carefully. The Seeder represents the greatest threat to that, because while his endeavors are altruistic, i.e. creating verdant oases in the middle of arid desert granting people an end to hunger, Swamp Thing must shut them down and rob those people of the life-giving means that are a godsend to them. This seems callous, but the Green is a balance and such works throw that balance off. If the Green is exploited in such a way, causing forests to grow in a desert, elsewhere a bed of seaweed that sustains an ecosystem will die or a grove of trees in the wetlands. It is a very hard job, but Swamp Thing is forced to execute it to maintain harmony and balance, even at the cost of human lives and great suffering. The Seeder comes forth and we find out that he is none other than Jason Woodrue, noted botanist and in previous DC continuities a sort of male Poison Ivy, who actually was the villainess’ mentor. Here he was given his strange powers by the Parliament of Trees in exchanged for saving the life of Alec Holland, who was murdered by Anton Arcane, as seen in Swamp Thing #0. He was not given full power over the Green, as Alec was, but a more rudimentary ability of manipulating seeds to do what he wished, hence his name. Swamp Thing and the Parliament come together to put an end to his hijinks, but when he fights back against both, they see how powerful Woodrue has become, even without full mastery of the Green and decide to have a tournament between Woodrue and Holland to see who should be the Avatar of the Green. Writer Charles Soule has taken this title into a new direction that is logical, but very much unique from Snyder’s run on the title. This issue the regular artist, Kano, is replaced by Andrei Bressan, whose art I have always loved, but which takes a very new style here. It might be that he has a different inker or colorist, but his art in this issue does conform to the themes and overall mood of the Swamp Thing title. There is a little bit of Bernie Wrightson in the way Swamp Thing is rendered, paying homage to his origins and rooting the series deeply in the aspects of the character that are eternal.

Batman: Black & White #2provides yet another round of truly excellent Batman stories rendered in stark black and white with plots that are anything but, from the writing and artistic talents of Dan Didio, J.G. Jones, Rafael Grandpa, Rafael Albuquerque, Jeff Lemire, Alex Nino, Michael Uslan, and Dave Bullock. In Dan Didio and J.G. Jones’ story “Manbat Out of Hell” we have the narration of a child talking about how their father made them feel safe, making the monsters that lurked in the dark go away juxtaposed over images of Batman interceding as the Man-Bat, Kirk Langstrom, breaks into a second floor window of a foster home. Batman fights the “villainous” werebat, pulling him off the man inside in front of two horrified children. When his subduing of the creature is met with increased horror from the children Batman realizes that they are Langstrom’s kids and the man he “saved” was an abusive attendant that preyed upon those same children. The narration was Langstroms children talking about their hero who protects them from monsters: their dad, Man-Bat. Didio’s story is infinitely complex and touching, showing how appearances often belie reality and true virtue and villainy. Rafael Grandpa’s story, “Into the Circle,” tells of the Joker setting up a heist with a motley crew of small time Gotham hoods on stately Wayne Manor. Seemingly straightforward, Grandpa throws a major curveball in the final five panels. His artwork is what truly electrifies the story, taking an understated, subtle plot and adding intrigue and enigma that tempts the reader from panel to panel. His art is hard to categorize, but has a simultaneous harshness and gentility within the very same lines. Simply fantastic. Rafael Albuquerque’s story, “A Place In Between,” takes Batman into the underworld on the ferry ride through the River Styx. As it progresses Batman is confronted with his greatest sins as he tries to cope with the reconciliation of his intentioned goals and the actuality of his past actions. Spoiler Alert: He isn’t dead, nor is this real, but Albuquerque gives thoughtful perspective to the reader and the Dark Knight as to the “success” of Batman’s mission and what things weigh on his conscience. Albuquerque’s inkwash illustrations are truly gorgeous to behold as you go on the ferry ride with the Caped Crusader. Jeff Lemire and Alex Nino’s story “Winter’s End,” is an excellent companion to the Didio/Jones story, “Manbat Out of Hell,” becasue while in the former story the reader is tricked into thinking the narration of Langstrom’s daughter is Bruce talking about his dad as his hero. “Winter’s End” is narrated by Bruce, talking about the last winter he spent with his father before the tragic events that severed them forever. In his recollections he talks about how safe his father made him feel, despite how scared he should have been. The narration is put over the current day adventure of Batman into the heart of a man-made blizzard by Mr. Freeze imperiling the life of Commissioner Gordon. The actual events of the story are so-so, but the backstory of Bruce’s childhood is what really impacts the reader. The final tale of the Batman, Michael Uslan’s “Silent Knight . . . Unholy Knight,” is rendered visually by Dave Bullock as though it were a silent film. In it a serial killer called the Silent Knight, dressed in medieval armor and wielding a sword attacks families of three just like Bruce’s in an attempt to call out the Dark Knight. It works. Uslan scripts the story exactly like a silent film with mostly pantomime panels that visually tell the story with only the occasional caption panel with barebones dictation to relate what cannot be conveyed visually. Bullock’s artistic style mimics that of Darwyn Cooke and evokes the glory of the Golden Age Batman, really nailing the necessary ambiance of the original Batman. Taken altogether, these stories paint a broad picture of who Batman is, what he represents, and the many things he embodies to a wide range of people throughout the world and over time.

Conning the Conmen.

Golden Age Batman on the Silver Screen . . .

Trillium #3returns to the flip book format of the first issue (sort of) and segments the two journeys of Dr. Nika Temsmith from 38th century and William Pike from 1921. Nika is drawn back into her time and quarantined after being “rescued” from the Atabithian village where she ate the trillium flower and passed through the pyramid emerging in our world a few years after WWI. With the sentient virus, the Caul, entered into the solar system the human refugees have sought shelter in the vastness of space and the military have tabled Nika’s negotiations with the Atabithians in favor of raiding their villages and taking the trillium crops that could provide humanity with a vaccine the Caul cannot adapt to. This would in essence destroy the Atabithian species, as they rely upon the trillium flowers for their own existence. To save them and to save humanity, Nika must escape captivity by her own people to prevent more than one apocalypse. Meanwhile, in our “recent” past William is rejoined by his brother, Clayton, after Nika goes back through the pyramid to her time. Of course Clayton does not believe William’s stories and as a result attempts to blow a hole in the sealed entranceway of the Aztec temple to prove there is nothing strange behind it. The confluence of events brings forth an ending that defies expectations and takes the imperativeness of the plot to unimaginable levels. Writer/artist Jeff Lemire is a genius, and his visual storytelling compliments his written work perfectly. The use of flipped pages to demarcate past from future can be jarring at times, but creates a much more believable experience demonstrating the strangeness of the tenuous link between the two disparate time periods. This series is what the Vertigo imprint was founded to print. Such a series is the quintessence of what Vertigo comics have been, currently are, and (God willing) shall be until the end of human civilization.

Hinterkind #1 is yet another debut in the new wave of Vertigo titles. This series also has a post-apocalyptic feel to it. Human civilization as it has been known has ceased and the planet has reclaimed its surface from us, like any landlord whose tenants have abused the leased property. The urban jungles of New York are taken over by a literal jungle growing over the streets and buildings and creating new ecosystems where wild animals reign free. In one of the beginning scenes, human survivors hunt a Zebra in lower Manhattan. Humanity has developed isolated colonies throughout the country that are linked only by radio. The opening scene shows the Albany colony falling to an unknown force. Following this the doctor of the Manhattan settlement, Asa Monday, decides to make the two month trek to Albany to ascertain what happened. Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis are revealed to have gone dark, just like Albany, making the fall of each all the more suspicious and worth investigating. His niece, Prosper Monday (the huntress that killed the Zebra at the beginning) wishes to go with him, but is denied. Upon finding out that her best friend, Angus, has grown a rat tail inexplicably the two depart the colony anyway to see what is going on in the wide world. What they find are even more incredible wild beasts like Ligons (lion/tiger hybrids), but what’s more, mythical beasts such as ogres and giant gothed-out fairies. Writer Ian Edginton says that in essence he wants to tell a post-apocalyptic fairytale that makes legends realistic and show that humanity isn’t the dominant species on this planet and maybe never was supposed to be. The series continues the tradition of upholding the promise of comics as an intelligent artistic and narrative medium. Edginton has me hooked for at least another issue, if not many more down the road.

The Urban Jungle.

Vertigo Presents: The Witching Hour was perhaps the greatest disappointment from Vertigo in some time. In the past when they had done topic anthology books like Ghosts, Time Warp, Strange Adventures, etc, they have gotten innovative creators to come onboard and spin poignant, entertaining short stories. Looking back on those previous books, I can bring to mind several stories that resonated deeply and blew the mind of those reading them. Jeff Lemire’s story about the death of Rip Hunter wasn’t something that spoke to the nature of reality, but it was deeply moving as to the nature of the human nature. Gail Simone wrote a fantastic short story about candy that could transport people to their most perfect moment and the sweet, but finite nature of memories. Witching Hour has almost none of the aspects present in the previous Vertigo anthology books. Whereas before, there were well-known comic writers and artists producing stories, or indy creators bringing their A-game, this collection features stories from mostly indy writers that are topical at best and convoluted at the worst. There isn’t even an adherence to a theme. Ghosts featured stories about . . . ghosts.Time Warp wasn’t strictly about time-travel but also the concept of the passing of time. Strange Adventures dealt with space travel and human exploration in the final frontier. Witching Hour begins with some stories about witches, but then there are stories about a mission to Mars and a woman with a parasitic spider in her brain. What?! Vertigo is slipping a little . . .

So ends the first week of October and the first in four weeks of resumed storylines in the regular continuities. I will miss the fun Villains issues, but it’s also nice to have old “friends” back with the resuming of continuing plot arcs. Can’t wait for next week’s batch which include the oversized issue of Batman #24 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. It promises to be good. See you then . . .

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these images and give credit to those whose work they are.

This week features some really incredible issues. Batman Inc brings us to the direct aftermath of the slaying of Robin, Damian Wayne, and what that portends for the overall Batman universe. Joe Kubert Presents concludes its six issue run. And so many other books of merit, there’s no point in prefacing them. Here they are:

Batman Inc #9represents a turning point in the title. The forces of Leviathan continue to press their advantage upon the Batman Incorporated lines. However, following the deaths of several Batman Inc agents, not least of which Batman’s son, Damian, the forces of the Batman begin to rally against the oppressive foe with renewed vigor. If the state of affairs as of this issue’s ending had to be boiled down to one sentence it be simply be: “It is ON!” Batman is ANGRY and his inner circle of allies are champing at the bit as well. Talia’s plan is a well oiled machine, but her cloned son going off script and murdering his “twin” was perhaps the chink in the chain that will break her dreams of revenge on the Dark Knight and his legacy. Though in the end, after killing their child, how much lower can she bring Batman? With the terror she has inflicted on Gotham and the political pressure from above to acquiesce to her demands, Batman Inc is outlawed and driven back into the shadows of Gotham. However, where do bats do their best hunting? Grant Morrison is writing an opera and each issue is a well orchestrated movement. Chris Burnham’s art, however, is the orchestra that brings it all to vibrant life. He takes the beautifully poignant scripts and brings them to brutal, bone wrenching realization. There are only a few artists whose work can pair perfectly with Morrison’s stories and Burnham is one of them. What little is left of this meteoric run is going to be nothing short of magical.

Don’t Mess With the Batman

Red Lanterns #18brings the Regent of Rage, Atrocitus, under the thumb of Volthoom. This horrific monstrosity plays people’s painful emotions like a violin and what can be rawer than someone whose very existence is a result of catastrophic loss. Atros of Ryutt not only lost his family the day the Manhunters went berserk in Space Sector 666, he lost his entire race. What would have happened if that genocide hadn’t occurred. As ever, Volthoom is eager to show what might have been, and as ever, it is absolutely awful. According to him, hatred and rage would have been Atrocitus’ destiny no matter what occurred or didn’t occur that day and if the Manhunters did annihilate his people as they did, so much innocent blood would never be on his hands and his crusade could be termed righteous thereafter. On Earth, John Moore, aka Rankorr, attempts to find happiness with a young woman he saved in the streets of his old town. However, Bleez might have something to say about it. Series writer Peter Milligan nails this plotline with his characteristic wit, brilliance, and sadistic charm. What becomes all too apparent as the issue reaches its conclusion is that when the red ring slips on your finger you may find temporary satisfaction through vengeance, but you will never find happiness. Atrocitus truly is a Greek tragedy personified and this issue proves that as he give the Red Lanterns one last order in the final panel. This issue was ridiculously good. The only thing I that could have been better was the art. Sorry, Miguel Sepulveda, but your art just doesn’t fit what I feel the tone of the book requires.

Hell Hath No Fury

Superman #18comes fresh off of “H’el on Earth” with great skill and style. In my review of last week’s Supergirl #18 I mentioned the danger inherent with coming off of a large event like this the Super-titles have, providing a jumping off point for readers unless a hook is sunk to keep them buying. Supergirl sunk a hook and Scott Lobdell BURIED one with this issue. Three major things occurred in this issue and each was drawn by a different artist along the lines of Green Lantern: New Guardians #18, also from last week’s releases. Apropos New Guardians, the departing artist of that title, Aaron Kuder, provides art on the parts of the issue that usher in Orion of the New Gods into the plot. For anyone that knows me or has read my posts with some frequency it is an understatement to say that I enjoy anything involving Jack Kirby’s Fourth World. So far Geoff Johns has bungled magnificently the introduction of Apokalips and its leader Great Darkseid into the New 52 continuity, but Brian Azzarello’s intro of Orion hasn’t been terrible. If I trusted anyone in DC’s current stable of creators with the Fourth World, it would be this series’ writer, Scott Lobdell. Here he beings the pitting of noble Orion against the Man of Steel. In the mean time, however, Superman has other more immediate worries on his mind. Tyler Kirkham (*ahem* Also a New Guardians artist) draws a segment of the story in which the United States government summons Superman to a Congressional hearing in which the Fortress of Solitude’s purpose is questioned and an inspection by International representatives is demanded. In his civilian identity of Clark Kent has to deal with unemployment and Cat Grant, who quit the Daily Planet shortly after Clark and who has big plans for their collective future. Cat Grant has always been portrayed as really callow and something of a bimbo. She’s fairly superficial in this representation on the outside, but I applaud Lobdell for giving her some substance deep down. I mean, she quit the Planet when Clark was forced to resign for journalistic integrity. She didn’t have to. She had a sweet gig as a popular trends journalist and was one of the voices of fashion and culture. Regardless of how vapid she may be, that shows really character. Scott Lobdell constantly astounds me at the amazing stories he’s telling at DC. Superman continues to be one of the must read titles.

Orion

Flash #18 features a story written exclusively by series cowriter and colorist Brian Buccellato and with art by guest artist Marcio Takara in which Barry Allen and the Flash try to pick up the pieces after the conclusion of the Gorilla Invasion of the Gem Cities and Barry’s civilian identity is brought back from the “dead.” In the wake of these events a whole new status quo has been established. Two men caught in Speed Force, following the Flash’s tearing the fabric of space and time with his speed, gain Flash-like abilities, albeit of a lesser caliber. Also the Trickster is framed for murder and the Flash sets out to prove one of his archenemies’ innocence. The story is very compelling, humorous, and engaging. I do not know how large a part series artist and cowriter Francis Manapul is, but in his absence Brian Buccellato has scripted an incredible issue. Marcio Takara’s art is different from the usual Manapul style, but closer than usual fill in artist, Marcus To. Altogether an incredible issue.

Talon #6is hands down one of the most important issues that has come out. This series spins off of a major plot point of the Bat-books and takes it into its own right. Writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV brings the title to a crescendo. When last we left Calvin Rose he was infiltrating an impregnable fortress off the coast of New York. The prize within is the Grand Master of the Court of Owls and his most sensitive documents. However, the Court aren’t easily assailed. The genius of the issue lies in its complete turn around of everything we’ve come to understand about the series, but also in the way it plays into a major mystery left by the end of the “Court of Owls” plot line in Batman. Guillem March’s artwork ties it all together. Simply genius.

Teen Titans #18is the final “Requiem” issue of the Bat-books in memoriam of Damian, giving us Tim Drake’s reaction to his “little brother’s” death. Damian managed to piss off every member of the Bat family, but Tim was the one who received the lion’s share of antagonism with the young Wayne. In fact, though it was pre-Reboot, the first time Damian met Tim he tried and almost succeeded in killing him. Needless to say, there is no love lost between them. But despite all that, they were very similar and Tim wanted him and all young heroes to be safe. His speech to the ghost of Damian, product of his grief, about why he set out to create the Teen Titans for kids like him to keep them safe was truly moving. From there Tim takes the Titans to Belle Reve prison in Louisiana for a toe-to-toe with Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad. The rationale is not revealed, but knowing writer Scott Lobdell, it will be crucial to something incredible over the horizon. Lobdell is another master of spreading seeds throughout his issues that later grow into substantial plot points. Doctor Light is seen in the shadows following a lead on the disappearance of a young Indian girl, Kiran Singh, whom we know to be Solstice, and a psychotic teen with super powers we met briefly last issue makes another cryptic appearance this issue. The true draw to any reader of Teen Titans past or present is the surprise appearance in the last panel of a VERY big player in the DCU pantheon. In summation, Scott Lobdell and Eddy Barrows knock it out of the park.

A Little Brother’s Plea

Aquaman #18for the most part is an exploration of the new status quo in the title. Aquaman has supplanted his brother, Orm, as king of Atlantis, leaving his wife, Mera, stranded on land. Despite his best efforts to do what is right for his people, he seems to be doing what is wrong for those closest to him. He has estranged himself from his wife whose people are hereditary enemies of Atlantis. He has sold out his brother to surface dwellers, when in all reality Orm was only acting in defense of their people using battle plans they came up with TOGETHER. Heavy weighs the crown it would seem, but I still am uneasy in my feelings for Aquaman. His quest to rid the surface does represent an altruistic attempt to gently normalize relations between the worlds above and below the waves, giving him some pathos with the reader. This quest also led to the introduction the classic Aquaman villain the Scavenger as well as Tula, here a half sister to Orm, but unrelated to Arthur, as he and Orm share a mother and Tula and Orm share a father. What this issue does do which really makes it worthwhile is the appearance of an ancient evil that promises to turn this series on its head. Geoff Johns is hit or miss lately and this one rides the edge.

Batman: The Dark Knight #18has Batman continuing on the trail of Mad Hatter. The actual pursuit clearly isn’t important to the writer, Gregg Hurwitz, as it is fairly uninspired and lackluster. In my opinion it seems only to be a mode of facilitating an examination of the Mad Hatter’s obsessive nature and a rationale behind why he is so violently insane. Jervis Tetch has always been rather short, just like his Lewis Carroll namesake, and while taking a testosterone booster gets an irreversible rage issue compounded with delusional obsessions. Hurwitz is more setting up the character for future exploration rather than focusing on an engaging tale. He also seems to be developing a trope of juxtaposing the villain de jour with Batman, showing the overlapping similarities Batman shares with his icon nemeses. After exploring the relationship between the damaged Mad Hatter and his loving parents, Hurwitz shows the relationship between the very damaged Batman and his parents, both sets of which want their sons to be happy, but the world contrevening against those wishes. The story itself isn’t enjoyable per se, but analyzing it does yield some interesting material.

Justice League Dark#18,while long and drawn out, is extremely simple. Last issue, Dr. Peril of A.R.G.U.S. revealed that the magic world the JLD traveled to as well as our world bleed magic through various locations and arcane persons. The Magic World, taken over by scientists that banned all magic and enforce its suppression with super-science, is like a stopped up boiler. Unless the magic can leech out in some manner the entire reality will be engulfed in the exploding energies built up over centuries. This issue has Timothy Hunter’s father going to the Magic World and helping him leech those energies from the Earth and channel them into the Heavens. After that the JLD exit the Magic World and return home. Constantine, after he regains his ability to lie and mislead, postures a bit to make up for the fact that he was completely worthless for the past few issues (and pretty much is ALL the TIME) and officially tells Col. Steve Trevor of A.R.G.U.S. that his Justice League Dark are no longer under governmental oversight. This past arc wasn’t exactly anything that I was interested in and time will tell if I continue to read it. The art by Mikel Janin is gorgeous and perhaps its only selling point at his juncture. Jeff Lemire is a decent writer, but a lot of the “magic” has gone out of it with the departure of Peter Milligan and the convergence that seems to be going towards Geoff Johns’ imminent “Trinity War.” We’ll just have to see.

All-Star Western #18concludes what was begun last issue with the entrance of Vandal Savage to Gotham and the outbreak of what was thought to be a cholera epidemic in the poorer sections of Gotham. In fact it was a disease Vandal had carried with him over the past several hundred years, dormant in his system. All of it was for Vandal to get his hands on Catherine Wayne to force Alan Wayne into forfeiting his vast holdings in Gotham to Savage. Jonah and Jeremiah come to her aid just in time to put Savage down for the time being. But with the immortal despot, he will rise again and continue his mad plots. After this, Jonah collects his bounty and heads out of Gotham once again. The question remains as to whether or not he will be able to stay away. Though he is a man of the West and has always been characterized as such, writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray always seem to bring him back to Gotham. This two-parter seemed to not really have a solid point to it and ends anticlimactically, but does have some poignant moments that are very interesting if not arbitrary, such as the scene where Hex and Arkham take refuge from the hordes above in a storm cellar populated by a dwarf smuggler (that is to say a smuggler who is a little person) and a grief stricken mother with a doll surrogate for her disease-killed baby. It facilitates next to nothing to the resolution or build up of the plot, but gives exceptional characterization and ambiance to the overall narrative. The Palmiotti/Gray/Moritat creative team on this book is rock solid, making this title a must read. In the backup feature, Palmiotti and Gray return to the character of Dr. Terrence Thirteen, scientific detective and debunker of superstition. Done under the auspice of “Stormwatch” this one was palatable, because it had next to nothing to do with that BS title or its history. Thirteen goes to a community of spiritualist mediums to catch a killer who masquerades as a giant pigman. Precise in his observations, his intellect is inversely proportioned to his social ineptitude, making him a Wild West version of Sherlock Holmes, minus the Watson. They bring it around to the Stormwatch concept at the end, but up until that point its quite enjoyable.

The Unwritten #47returns the narrative back to where we left Tom Taylor three months ago. He had descended into the Underworld to get back the soul of his lost lover, Lizzy Hexam, and in the process lost all memory of who and what he was before his entrance into the realm of Hades. Meeting up with the slain children of the French prison warden in the first arc of the series, he attempts to find his way out by visiting the king. The cliffhanger we left off on in issue #44 was the discovery that Pauly Buckner had become the king of the Underworld. This issue fills us in on how Pauly went from facing oblivion at the beginning of the “Wound” arc (at the time in his human form) to being stuck as a rabbit again and presiding over the realm of the dead. Pauly is the worst kind of “person” and of course he’s going to do something nasty when given the chance to sadistically toy with someone. He commands his masked guardsman of the dead to imprison Tom in the dungeons. In Hades, as in Hell, you are imprisoned by your crime. With no memory Tom can’t rightly confess his crime, even were he to want to. There is a holding area for others, victims of the Wound, who have no crimes to repent for. On the way down one of the masked guardsman tells Tom the basics of why he in fact came down into the Underworld and bids him look upon something that he is meant to see. Here we see a very existentialist dilemma in Tom. After being without knowledge for a decent amount of time and then given the chance at regaining it, he is terrified. Knowledge is a weight we carry and the hints at the return of who he was and what he did are terrifying to him. It is one of the key facts of human existence. Like Adam and Eve who ate the fruit, they gained vast knowledge but also inherited great evil as well. Tom is left to determine whether he will take the road towards “something” or remain in a state of “nothing[ness].” What lies behind the door that the guardsman bids him enter is something that all readers of the series are going to wish a great deal to read more about. I love this series. Mike Carey and Peter Gross are geniuses and this series shines forth that genius with luminous glory. If you haven’t read the series so far, pick up the graphic novels, gorge yourself in their magnificence so you can get to this issue and enjoy it with all the Unwritten faithful.

Joe Kubert Presents #6is the final issue created by and now in memoriam to one of the greats of the comic medium, bearing his name proudly in the title. This issue starts off with the final chapter of the “Spit” feature, written, drawn, and colored by Kubert. It is precisely the coloring that is so perplexing and has made me rack my brain over. The other three episodes were all done in the grey tone black and white pencil medium that Kubert is renown for. He briefly goes back to it for several panels as the ships cook relates the tale of how he lost his leg, but most of the story is depicted in pastel-like splendor. I think it would have been more apt, if the point was demarcating the past from present, to have the flashback in vibrant color, but then again I am not Kubert and perhaps lack the insight he employed in his storycraft. This last segment shows with great visual detail and narrative skill the method of hunting, killing, and rendering the whales into the oil that fueled Western civilization before the advent of petroleum. Only Joe Kubert. “Spit” was a seminal work of short fiction, and with no solid ending it is obvious Kubert wasn’t done with the poor lad yet. Too bad. He was a bright boy who sailed over the horizon and now we’ll never see where he went or who he became. Again, too bad. The next feature, written by Kubert and Pete Carlsson and entitled “Ruby”, takes the reader to the orient in a bygone era as bandits invade a Himalayan monastery. Inside a young brother and sister try to evade the bandits, but instead run into a monk who gives them a great treasure. Guess what that treasure happens to be. Holding the ruby, the boy realizes it has strange powers that grant both children the means to escape. It is brief and engaging, having all the hallmarks of the old serial anthology books of the 50’s and 60’s and one thinks that that is the end of the story. The final sentence of the narrattion turns it all around. “The boy clasping his small sister’s hand will be known in time as . . . Sargon the Sorcerer.” Sargon is one of the lesser known, but immensely powerful and infinitely mysterious magic users of the DCU and in his last days on Earth Joe Kubert gave us a brief yet authentic feeling origin for the mighty magician. It should be noted that although the panels on this feature bear a striking resemblance to Kubert’s style, it is actually drawn by Henrik Jonsson. Next the book turns to the “U.S.S. Stevens” feature. As he did in the last issue, Sam Glanzman eschews personal reminiscences in lieu of a point by point history lesson on the high points of the final days of the War in the Pacific. This description of his final segment in the feature recounting the service of his Destroyer and its crew during WWII is deceptively unfair considering how engaging and compelling it is. Though its a history lesson, its a history lesson from the coolest teacher you ever had. The one that knew what you wanted to hear and related from someone who was there. A vibrant voice of a dying generation of men and women, Sam Glanzman has recorded his story in the medium that has been his life since the war ended: pen, paper, and panel. The “Angel and the Ape” feature also, obviously, comes to its final chapter. Writer/artist Brian Buniak continues his lighthearted, satirical farce with the tale of how Angel and Sam Simeon came to found their detective agency. Buniak’s work is laden with witticism, obvious corny jokes, and some really veiled jokes that take a trained eye. I have to admit that I was really proud of myself when I picked up on one specific one. The raven haired reporter interviewing the duo’s name is Noel. Now at the end of the issue when she goes back to the newspaper office there is a dark haired handsome male reporter with black hair and glasses. She calls him “George.” Thinking he looked like Superman and his name being George, I realized that while George Reeves portrayed Superman in the 50’s television show, Noel Neill portrayed Lois Lane. You are a sharp one, Mr. Buniak. The final feature to cap the series off was a one shot story of “Kamandi: Last Boy on Earth” cowritten by Kubert and Brandon Vietti, the latter of which also provided art. Kamandi attempts to raise men up from their savage state after a cataclysm that left humans de-evolved and raised animal tribes to the dominant species of the planet. The series was originally written by comics god Jack Kirby and in this issue Kubert resurrects the Demon Etrigan to contend with Kamandi’s efforts. Again, I am at a loss for what Kubert meant to say with the story, but trust that there is some meaning. If there isn’t, well then it was an interesting meeting of two of Jack’s greatest creations. I hope Kirby and Kubert are both in Heaven talking about what Joe did right or very, very wrong. In any event, Joe Kubert was a testament to what the comics medium once was, what is has become, and what it has the possibility to be as we grow with it, just like he did, starting in the industry at 17 and dying at his drawing board at 82. One last time I will say it: Rest in Peace, Joe! If anyone’s earned some rest, it’s you.

Sargon the Sorcerer

Time Warp #1is yet another of Vertigo’s anthology collections based upon a theme. Obviously with Time Warp, time and its manipulation are the basis of the collected stories. In some cases time travel is utilized, but that isn’t the only facet of time explored. In others memory is revealed to be the surest and perhaps only means of manipulating time. The creative voices lending their thoughts and yarns here include Damon Lindelof (Lost), Jeff Lemire, Gail Simone, Mark Buckingham, Peter Milligan, M.K. Perker, Matt Kindt, as well as several others. I will say that these stories, or at least the ones I will write about, are so good I am going to spoil them, so if you want to read them fresh please stop here. SPOILER ALERT!!! The first story, drawn by Jeff Lemire and written by Damon Lindelof, follows DC’s own time-master, Rip Hunter, as he gets stranded in prehistory. There is legitimately no way for him to get back. As the story opens he is being chased by a T-Rex and relates that in the second grade he had said getting eaten by a dinosaur would be the best way to die. Apparently he should be careful what he wishes for. However, through the chase three versions of himself give him clues as to what he needs to do next to stay alive, as two versions of him going back in one time sphere would corrupt time. However, a VERY old Rip, the third to appear, lets the Rip whose progress we’ve been following use his sphere. When asked about being left behind, old Rip simply says that in second grade he’d figured that being eaten by a dinosaur was the best way to go. Our Rip leaves and old Rip looks up at the dinosaur and says, “I’m ready now.” His resolve at the end to face death with calm and courage registers true, but also is poignant because he chose his death after a long journey. It wasn’t an enemy, but a friend. Well done, Messrs. Lindelof and Lemire. The next story, entitled “It’s Full of Demons,” begins in 1901 with a girl and her brother playing in the mountains when a strange visitor wearing what appears to be a futuristic deep sea diver’s suit appears out of nowhere and kills the girl’s brother with a ray gun. She tries to tell people what happened, but is deemed insane and sent in and out of insane asylums over the next fifty-five years. What’s even stranger is that after WWI the world takes a very different course and a unifty commonwealth of nation emerges. Eventually, the woman hangs herself when world peace is finally realized by this world confederacy. At that moment in the last panel someone FINALLY calls her by her name, or at least her maiden name: Miss Hitler. Her little brother “Addy” who was murdered was Adolf Hitler and his absence led to a unifying of the world in a lasting peace. The last piece that struck me in this anthology was written by Gail Simone about a candy shop whose owner has a sweet that can make you relive the best moment of your life. For a very ill little boy with a very serious condition the candy takes him to a skiing trip that he took with his parents before the onset of his disease. For a man who lost his wife, he is back with her on a beautiful tropical beach. However, a murder comes in wishing to relive the night he murdered his wife, a crime for which he was acquitted. There is a twist ending to this one, but I won’t spoil it this time. There are many other excellent stories in this collection, but those three stood out as the true masterworks. It is solicited that the next anthology they are going to put out is called “The Witching Hour.” I very much look forward to reading that one as well, considering the level of quality that Vertigo has put in their previous collections.

Rest In Peace, RIP.

So ends a REALLY excellent week of comics. The two anthology books, Joe Kubert Presents and Time Warp, kind of make me nostalgic for when such titles were more common place. Next week we enter into a new month of comics excellent story lines. Hope to see you there.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these images and give credit to those whose work they are.

This was a huge week, both in the number of comics I picked up and the quality. First and foremost, Grant Morrison concludes his run on Action Comics with an oversized issue that promises to be one of the hallmarks of his comics career. Batwoman enters into a new era after a seventeen issue mega story came to an EPIC end last month. Legion of Super-Heroes has descended into unmitigated horror as of its preceding issue and moves into what promises to be the biggest story in LOSH history since writer Paul Levitz’s “Great Darkness Saga” plot from the early 80’s. And who could forget three Bat-titles that follow in the wake of Damian Wayne’s tragic passing. I am shaking just recounting the possibilities this week holds in store. Let’s jump in:

Action Comics #18concludes Grant Morrison’s MASSIVE opening arc of this flagship Superman title. As with most things Morrison, I’m not entirely sure I got all of it. It is steeped in 5th dimensional nonlinear geometry and what could vaguely be filed under the heading of quantum mechanics. Superman is fighting Vyndktvx, and by extension Superdoom and the Anti-Superman Army. It’s pretty technical, but insanely engaging to read. Superman’s position seems impossible to extricate himself from, except when he realizes an inherent flaw in the logistics of Vyndktvx’s attack. As he discerned on Mars when fending off the Multitude, the unfathomable numbers of this angelic hoard were merely a fifth dimensional projection of one being, Vyndktvx. Likewise, by choosing to attack Superman at various points throughout his life, Vyndktvx is able to optimize the torture quotient of his assault upon the Man of Steel, but conversely traps himself in a relativistic conundrum hinging on Superman’s perception of the situation. When Superman realizes that he’s been attacked at other points in his life he also realizes that due to the quantum physics of the 3-dimensional plane in which we exist he would have survived all the previous assaults by Vyndktvx and therefore would have gained de facto the knowledge of how to defeat the mad 5-D villain. Grant Morrison and his dynamic duo of artists, Brad Walker and Rags Morales, really did a great job of tying together their entire run on the book and making it meaningful. Lex Luthor made an appearance defending the Man of Steel and another antagonist from earlier in this series, Adam Blake, and his Neo-Sapien brotherhood come back to Earth and lend Superman a hand as well. The people of Earth are promised immortality and eternal happiness if they shun Superman in his moment of greatest need, but humanity rallies behind their savior and grant him the key to victory. The backup feature by Sholly Fisch was a little insubstantial, but in fairness his amazing backup feature in #17 was no doubt supposed to be the ending of the arc until Morrison got DC to extend his run by one issue to fully tell the grand finale as he envisioned it. This one features kids in a Superman Museum in the 31st century featuring almost no dialogue and just seems propped up with toothpicks. There was meaning behind it, but it still had the air of being rushed. Despite that, this issue as well as the other eighteen issues of the series (remember there was a #0 issue in there, too) were amazing and a tribute to Grant Morrison’s genius. A must read, whether in single issues or graphic novel format.

Vyndktvx’s 5-D Dilemma

Justice League #18was a nerd spasm with the League auditioning new members and writer Geoff Johns pulling out all sorts of fan favorites along with some really obscure characters. Zatanna, Firestorm, and Black Canary come up , but Johns also brings in Platinum of the Metal Men, Element Woman (female version of Metamorpho) which he’d messed around with in Flashpoint, Goldrush, and a female version of the Atom. Other than exploring the need of a new member to the team and introducing the hint of a coming conflict, there wasn’t much point to this issue. The Shazam backup feature had good art from Gary Frank, but vexing plot development: Billy Batson running away from responsibility, because he’s a punk. If he were any other version of the character than this it could be legitimately reasoned as a kid afraid to fail, but it’s not. It’s Geoff Johns’ bizarre attempt at rebooting an edgier Billy and his running away from conflict just comes off as him being a self interested brat. This series just does not work for me, main feature and backup.

Justice League of America #2brings about Geoff Johns’ second attempt at a team book. The first issue was a really solid opening chapter that showed promise, albeit suffering slightly with its breakneck, abbreviated introductions to six lead characters. This second issue continues that promise with a pretty substantial plot. Its shorter in length, giving some of its page count to the Martian Manhunter backup feature. There is some quality character development on Catwoman, as well as Steve Trevor. The main villain seeking to create the “Secret Society of Super-Villains” from the end of Justice League #6 a little more than a year ago finally shows his face and seems to be a completely new character, or perhaps a drastically different take on an old one, because I do not recognize him at all. All in all, a really enjoyable, edgy series. I think that Geoff Johns is trying to be edgy with the two Justice League titles and that is where he fails with the main series. When you have tertiary characters like Catwoman, Katana, Hawkman, etc, you can be edgier. When you try that same thing with the main DCU characters, even to a degree with Batman, you just alienate them from the audience reading them. Maybe that’s what Johns is going for, but that’s a really low bar to aim for and a really crappy status quo for readers to expect. The Martian Manhunter backup was too edgy for me and I did not like it. If J’onn J’onnz was to die at this point I wouldn’t care at all. That is sad, because I always liked him.

Kindred Spirits

Batwoman #18is a new beginning for the character, but also a reaffirmation of what her life has become. Medusa and her kidnapping of dozens of Gotham children was the plot that pervaded the first seventeen issues of the title, but with last issue that has been laid to rest. However, in fighting this titanic battle for the innocents of her city, Batwoman had to make a devils deal with the D.E.O. and become their leashed super-agent in order to complete her mission with impunity and keep her father out of prison for his outfitting of her with Army equipment. This latter aspect of her life was overshadowed by the pressing quest to find and subdue Medusa before the children came to harm. With the mission accomplished she is becoming aware of the shackles she’s got herself tethered with. As she plays her role in this issue taking down Mr. Freeze to obtain some of his freeze tech for the D.E.O. she runs afoul of Batman and confuses her father, cousin Betty (her sidekick Hawkfire), and the Batman as to what her motives are. After defeating Medusa, Batwoman proposed to her alter-ego Kate Kane’s girlfriend, Capt. Maggie Sawyer. This issue picks up with Maggie looking for a new place for the two of them, completely overstepping any reaction from the Gotham policewoman as to the revelation that her lover was the vigilante she had been hunting. Probably the right decision by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman, but I still would have been interested to see what the initial conversation was before her acceptance of this rather unorthodox situation. This series continues to be amazing, although this particular episode was a little less exciting after the high octane ride the past couple of months have given us with the conclusion of the “Medusa” mega-arc. Also Trevor McCarthy’s art pales in comparison to Williams’. I feel they do him a disservice, as he is a good artist, by pairing his artwork next to Williams’.

Green Lantern: The New Guardians #18brings Volthoom’s wrath upon Carol Ferris, Saint Walker, and Larfleeze. To accomplish this, series artist Aaron Kuder has been replaced with three artists for the three different sequences in the narrative. The Carol Ferris segment is drawn by Hendry Prasetyo and features Carol living a life without love. She’s completely ignored her obligations to her father and their family company Ferris Aircraft, following her dream to become a fighter pilot. Though this sounds ideal for her, with Volthoom’s altered timeline it is anything but. Larfleeze’s segment is drawn by Jim Calafiore and features the paragon of greed first with his family that he has desperately wanted to find for ages and then as a Blue Lantern. Both times, he barely gets into the altered reality before his inherent greed overpowers his senses and collapses the concept in on itself. Saint Walker doesn’t so much live a life without hope, so much as lives a life without loss, this time around having gotten a green power ring saving his planet before his family died in the quest for the blue one. He also is unable to follow the reality through as in his heart he knows it is not true. Like Kyle last issue, each of the other “New Guardians” prove too powerful in their spirit for Volthoom to truly get the better of forcing Volthoom to seek out someone he knows he can manipulate: Atrocitus. That may be a lead in to next week’s Red Lanterns issue, because Atrocitus hasn’t been a New Guardian for awhile. This issue was really well written and really cut to the heart of these three incredible lanterns.

Supergirl #18presents a major turning point for the Maiden of Steel. She has been alienated upon waking up on a planet whose language and culture she is unfamiliar with. Things looked up for awhile as she made a friend in Siobhan McDougal, aka Silver Banshee, but then with the introduction of H’el onto the scene she was given the hope of returning to her homeworld and being reunited with her family. With last month’s issue of Supergirl as well as the conclusion of Superman #18 it is now an intractable fact: Supergirl can never go home again. That is sadly pointed out in a moment where she emerges from a solar satellite where she is convalescing from green kryptonite poisoning. After exiting the solar chamber she begins to say “I want to go home,” but stops and corrects herself, “I just want to get back to Earth.” Her expression in this moment is truly heartrending. In the meantime, Lex Luthor plots against her from his state-of-the-art, super-prison, via neural implant that projects his consciousness to an offsite computer. Also a strange connection between Kara Zor-El and Karen Starr, the Kara Zor-El of Earth 2, is teased at. This issue featured a guest writer, Frank Hannah, and he picks up and continues the series in intriguing new directions. Coming off of a massive event like “H’el on Earth” can be dangerous, providing a jumping off point for readers of certain series if they don’t sink a hook right away. This issue sunk a hook. What’s to come has great promise.

You Can Never Go Home Again

Legion of Super-Heroes #18 continues down the cataclysmic road that issue #17 began. The United Planets are still reeling from the assault of Tharok against the technological advances of the 31st century and the death toll mounts. The last issue focused on Legionnaires stranded on Rimbor and the Promethean Giants. This one goes back to both locations and the plight upon them, but also adds Earth and the Legion’s headquarters in Metropolis to the stage. Mon-El, Shadow Lass, Lightning Lass, Shrinking Violet, and Cosmic Boy leave Earth for Webber World, an artificial planet that is nothing but technology to try and establish the devastation there. Brainiac 5, Dream Girl, Star Man, Chemical Kid, and Element Lad attempt to get a cruiser prepped for their own departure from Earth. Ultraboy, Glorith, and Chameleon Boy attempt to escape Rimbor using Glorith’s magic, and Phantom Girl, Invisible Kid, and Polar Boy continue to try and regroup after their crash landing on the fabled Promethean giant. This arc has all the hallmarks of another cosmic epic on the scale of writers Paul Levitz and Keith Giffen’s 1980’s opus, “The Great Darkness Saga.” This issue lost a little steam, but issue #17 had two advantages. Firstly, it had the element of surprise, following a very calm “nothing is happening” issue directly into a sucker punch in the readers’ collective gut with literally all Hell breaking loose. Secondly, it had Keith Giffen’s Kirby-esque artwork magnifying the already nuts plotline into a tour-de-force thrill ride. Scott Kolins and Tom Derenick do a good job, but like McCarthy above in the Batwoman review, they have the misfortune of standing in the very long shadow of Giffen. I am pumped to read further into this amazing arc which promises to be a historic one.

DC Universe Presents #18 is a one shot like last month’s issue that gives spotlight to Jason Todd’s fellow outlaws. Issue #17 was a focus on Roy Harper that really laid bare the kind of person he is as well as his hidden strengths and virtues. This month we are shown Princess Koriand’r, aka Starfire. Born into royalty, her sister sacrificed her to slave traders to buy peace for the realm. This issue tells about her time as a slave on a ship that is larger than the Earth. Inside are entire civilizations that the slavers raid and sell when needs be. This issue wasn’t large in the action department, but did present an interesting study into the mindset of the enslaved. How sometimes those that aren’t free are so weighed down by their bondage that they do not want to be free because of the terror it inspires in their comfortable minds. This issue was once again written by Joe Keatinge, who wrote the Arsenal issue last month. The art is done by newcomer Federico Dallocchio. The writing is thought provoking, if not action packed, and the artwork is very lovely, representing the beautiful heroine well. Not a bad issue at all.

Nightwing #18hits Dick Grayson while he’s down. Last issue had Nightwing mourning the loss of his friends and the circus he grew up in and was trying to save. It had Dick struggling with his own sense of denial, telling those that still cared about him that he was fine when he was really anything but, festering pain and anger deep in his belly until the pressure burst. All the while Damian, the most socially inept, insensitive member of the Bat Family, followed him to intervene when the inevitable sword dropped. Damian stopped him from stepping over the line and told him exactly what he needed to hear to ease his battered and bruised soul. This issue opens with Damian dead and the old wounds he’d seemingly healed torn open and wrenched deeper by the loss of this “little brother” who knew him possibly better than even Batman. What it comes down to is that he is losing his past. The circus he grew up in was terrorized and some of the older members like the clown, James Clark, and his former girlfriend, Raya, brutally murdered by the Joker, the circus folds, and then Damian, who had served as his Robin when he donned the cape and cowl of Batman, dies suddenly saving Gotham. Then Batman comes to him with information that a criminal scavenger that sells crime artifacts in underground auctions has plundered Haly’s and put John Grayson’s trapeze outfit up for sale. The Collector last showed up in Scott Snyder’s Detective Comics run, pre-Reboot, running afoul of Dick Grayson’s Batman. Now its a rematch in his Nightwing identity. Though he goes in angry, the outcome of the confrontation ironically heals him and proves the truth in something Damian told Dick before he died. But of course Dick can’t be happy for long. When deciding to finally meet with Sonia Branch (nee Zucco), daughter of gangster that killed his parents, she reveals something about her dad that once again shows how Dick’s past is continually eroding beneath him, leaving him very little closure. Kyle Higgins is KILLING IT! His Nightwing run is seminal. I may have liked other runs as much as this one, but I’m not sure. All I know is that this is a really emotionally driven, introspective, thought provoking title that continually amazes. Juan Jose Ryp yet again provides equally stunning interior art, really drawing out the latent potential in every heartbreaking frame. This two issue interim arc between “Death of the Family” and the next major story arc of the title has been phenomenal on every imaginable level.

Painful Memories

Red Hood and the Outlaws #18following the shocking ending of last issue vis-a-vis the booby trapped helmet that the Joker whipped together, Jason lays in a medically induced coma, facing his greatest enemies. With the revelation a few months prior that the Joker for all intents and purposes created him by selecting him and guiding him towards the Batman, the Clown Prince of Crime is the first of Jason’s adversaries. However, the real adversary he fights is himself. A mob of Bat family members, past and present, as well as his former allies converge on him at once and Batman is the one who pulls him out. This is writer Scott Lobdell’s last issue on the series and he might be taking his character from his complete alienation of his past as Robin and bringing him back into the fold, or perhaps he’s just tempering the fiery character of the failed Robin, but in either event, he presents a single heartwarming tale for the jaded anti-hero. Despite all he has done and the pain he has put them through, Bruce and Alfred love him and do everything in their power to help him come back to life, literally and metaphorically. Tyler Kirkham does fantastic guest art on the title, really bringing out the twisted nature of Jason’s psyche. Well worth picking up.

Vibe #2was a half and half issue. Half of the issue played catch up and was boring for those who have read Justice League of America #1 & 2. Recounting all of the snippets of Cisco Ramon’s appearances in the first two issues of the overarching JLA title, it does inform those who didn’t read the aforementioned title and gave context to those that did, but still, didn’t hit just right. The other half of it hit a cord with DC fans that know their obscure characters. A transdimensional invader comes through to deliver a note to an emissary. It hands it to Vibe right before an A.R.G.U.S. agent zaps him. The note was meant for the character, Gypsy, whose father apparently is a potentate in another reality. A far departure from her previous back story, she is exactly like Vibe. Few know who she is so few care if they do a MASSIVE overhaul. What is clear is that A.R.G.U.S. likes to kidnap the daughters of powerful men. Darkseid’s daughter is their prisoner. This unknown king’s daughter is also their prisoner. They better pray that Gypsy’s homeworld doesn’t form an alliance with Apokalips, because they are literally playing with fire and poking some VERY big dogs with an annoyingly sharp stick. I want to believe Geoff Johns knows what he’s doing, but he is quitting the only good book he is currently writing. So I put my faith in cowriter, Andrew Kreisberg.

Wonder Woman #18 concluded a maxi-arc in the odyssey of Zola’s baby. In Wonder Woman #1 writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang introduced us to Zola, a human woman who bore Zeus’s newest bastard. The Amazing Amazon has gone on a long journey to protect the young woman from the various gods of Olympus and upon its birth, to recover the baby from those same, meddlesome gods. That story finds its conclusion a year and a half later. However, it continues the tale of Zeus’s first born child, exiled and awoken millennia later with rage and vengeance on his mind. Those same gods who tried to strong arm and kidnap an innocent child, now have to contend with a vengeful demigod fueled by distilled hatred. Also Azzarello has re-introduced us to the New Gods of New Genesis, represented primarily by Orion, foster son of High Father and (perhaps still unbeknownst to him) the eldest son of Darkseid. Azzarello keeps this series afloat, sometimes peaking on the wave of awesome, and other times lulling in the trough of mediocre. This concluding issue of that first major crisis features art by alternating artist Tony Akins and Cliff Chiang, as well as a third penciller, Goran Sudzuka. This one was pretty good and a must read if you have been one of the faithful, reading it from the inaugural issue.

Sword of Sorcery #6accomplished quite a bit. It fully introduced us to the new lord of House Turquoise after the death of Princess Amaya of House Amethyst’s grandfather, Lord Firojha. It also introduces another newly minted House head following another shift in power. Most importantly to the DCU in general is yet another reason why I want to see John Constantine strung up by his toes. He singlehandedly brings the harbinger of utter ruin upon Princess Amaya’s home, but what’s worse, he uses her to invite it in. In fairness to Constantine, however, the doom that he has sent to Nilaa was born in the Gemworld and exiled to Earth thousands of years ago. Still, its a pretty low thing to do, considering how Amaya pulled his bacon out of the fire in the Justice League Dark Annual. The Stalker backup feature isn’t even worth talking about. Just horrible. Get this issue for the main feature and then close it up after the conclusion.

Batman Beyond Unlimited #14begins with an interim chapter in Batman Beyond following the conclusion of the hellacious “10,000 Clowns” arc and the coming one called “Undercloud.” Though its a one shot, it is monumental if one followed the animated “Batman Beyond” series. In the series Terry McGinnis constantly had to bail on his long suffering girlfriend, Dana Tan, and play it off like he was doing errands for his boss, the aged Bruce Wayne. After the events of “10,000 Clowns” and her brother Doug unleashing hell on earth upon Gotham in the form of 10,000 suicidal Jokerz from around the world Dana is put in a situation where everything clicks. When Doug attempted to kill their father in the ICU, Bruce Wayne, 80+ years old and dying himself from liver failure, got out of his hospital bed and fought the twenty something maniac, allowing the Tans to get Mr. Tan to safety. When Doug took his sister as a hostage, Batman referred to her by name. The math is right there and Dana FINALLY figures it out and a new era in Terry’s tenure as Batman begins. The issue is also good, because Dana was often a set piece on the show and more of a plot device than an actual character. This issue was her issue. It was narrated by her, gave her history with an intimate look into her traumatic upbringing with a psychotic for an older brother who despite his evil nature she still loves, and tells us what gives her peace. Adam Beechen makes this series come alive for those of us who mourned the TV series’ cancellation. Although, I do have one beef. In the “Justice League Unlimited” episode entitled “Epilogue” we are told that Terry discovered that Bruce Wayne was his biological father when they did the liver transplant and found out him and Bruce were identical tissue types. In this issue the liver came from someone else. You messed up, Mr. Beechen, but I’ll forgive you because the rest of this issue and those preceding it were truly mind blowing. Also, kudos to Peter Nguyen who takes over for regular Batman Beyond artist Norm Breyfogle. The art is truly beautiful, underscoring the moving narratives within. Unfortunately, the Superman Beyond plot is leaving me whelmed. I thought there was going to be some moral ambiguity with the Trillians claiming Superman destroyed their world, but really they are just an overclass that resents having their property taken away. Superman freed their slaves and now they are angry. Boo-effing-Hoo. On to the next. The Justice League Beyond Unlimited story finishes off in this third installment with a new Flash, this time a young African American woman named Danica (last name to come soon, I am sure). This arc was over relatively quickly when compared with the previous Kobra arc that spanned almost an entire year’s worth of issues. However, despite the brevity and the quick take down of what could have been a truly formidable foe on the level of most of the greats this issue had its poignant moments that really speak to the superhero genre, why they do what they do, and gives a comprehensive intro to the next scion of the Speed Force. Perhaps the best moment came after Superman personally extended an invitation to Dani to join the JLB. After accepting his gracious offer, she challenged him to a foot race, which every speedster since Barry Allen have done. Derek Fridolfs write this one as well as providing inks for Jorge Corona’s pencils. Truly a great end to a relatively short arc. This issue was phenomenal overall.

This crop was amazing, though statistically they had more shots at it with the increased number of entries. Several of these are must gets to comic fans in general, regardless of genre.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these images and give credit to those whose work they are.

This is a week I have been looking forward to for awhile. Green Lantern: The New Guardians has been powering towards this year long finale and I am anxious to read it. Batman Incorporated was regrettably bumped back a month due to the shooting in Colorado, but finally hits stands. The Golden Glider, aka Lisa Snart, makes her first appearance in The Flash. And The Unwritten has been at the top of my pull list since it first came out over three years ago.

Green Lantern: The New Guardians #12completes not only a full years worth of storytelling, but also the very first story arc which I believe has been referred to as “The Ring Thief.” Self contained, this twelve month span of issues presents a beginning and an end wrapped up very neatly. If one wanted to stop here, writer Tony Bedard provides a perfect jumping off point for reader, but also a perfect jumping on point next month for a new stage of storytelling with a brand new team. Wrapping up the threat of Invictus against the Vega System and the Universe and the mysterious motives of the “Ring Thief”, Bedard presents two very complex figures. Both the fallen Angel of Vega and the fallen Guardian of Oa have good intentions that cross boundaries of morality and pervert their noble aims. Both are put down, but the result leaves a bittersweet taste in one’s mouth as to whether or not the Universe is better or worse for their defeat. This series started off shaky last September, but finished high on the leaderboard in my opinion. Can’t wait for next arc with the return of two of my favorite Lanterns: Carol Ferris and Atrocitus.

The Last Flight of the New Guardians

The month delayed Batman Incorporated #3finally came out this week, for those who couldn’t get a bootleg around the time of the original release date. Isssue #1 introduced the reentry of Leviathan as the central threat under the banner of Talia Al-Ghul. Issue #2 reintroduced the origin and journey of Talia to the foreground as the mastermind behind Leviathan and the reasons for the organization’s creation. This issue brings us back to Batman and Robin fighting Leviathan and how the enigmatic cabal is spreading like a cancer throughout the infrastructure of Gotham, and probably the whole country. Donning the seemingly retired persona of “Matches” Malone, Batman attempts to infiltrate the beast from its belly. Grant Morrison writes a tight script and artist Chris Burnham draws it exquisitely, with as style reminiscent of Frank Quitely, but with a flavor all its own.

A Tangled Web

Flash #12brings months of Flash issues to a head. Writer/artists Francis Manapul and Brian Brian Buccellato have been slowly introducing the Rogues in one off issues that reintroduce and in some cases reinvent the characters to the DCU. With Heatwave’s, appearance last month the final two make their’s in this twelfth installment. Captain Cold’s little sister, Lisa Snart, aka Golden Glider, comes into the picture, ousting her brother as leader of the Rogues and institutes a daring plan to bring the Gem Cities to their knees, with a lot of help from a final Rogue who has kept a low profile thus far. In the life of our protagonist, Flash confronts his fair-weather friend, Dr. Elias, about his betrayal and finds the good doctor to be an egotistical user who took advantage of the Flash to further his own research. Elias then becomes the lynch pin between the Rogues, the Flash, Captain Cold, and The Pied Piper. A lot of things happening and all setting up the Flash Annual due next week . . .

Batman: The Dark Knight #12was a pretty intense, thought provoking issue. Falling into the clutches of the Scarecrow, Batman is subjected to various regimes of fear toxin. Through his descent into the trauma of his childhood, we see that Bruce Wayne and Jonathan Crane are actually very similar in several respects. Also the the greatest fear of Batman’s is revealed and it is quite shocking, but appropriate. Gregg Hurwitz is writing a great Batbook that is both hard hitting and introspective. David Finch’s artwork continues to define the book and lend it a feel that is truly gothic.

Fury of Firestorm #12reaches the fever point for both Pozhar and Director Zither. With the international tension between Firestorms mounting, the truth behind the emergence of these superbeings unfolds. Pozhar, the Russian Firestorm, pioneered the technology with Professor Stein. Jason Rusch and Ronnie Raymond gained their powers from Stein’s Matrix. The Firestorms of the other nations received their Firestorm Matrices from Zithertech, which makes all the difference. The fallout (perhaps literal as well as figurative) redefines the title in time for the new regime of Dan Jurgens as writer/artist. Ashra Khan hasn’t shown yet. Hope that doesn’t vanish with the previous creative team. I like Dan Jurgens’ work as a whole, but sometimes he can drop the ball. I feel like he could do this title great justice, considering the subject material.

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1inaugurates another out-of-the-park hit from J. Michael Straczynski in the Before Watchmen line. With a plot whose flow is dictated by the principles of quantum physics, mainly that of what I believe is referred to as “Schrödinger’s cat”, stating that anything conceivable is possible until proven otherwise. In this, the young Jon Osterman receives a present from his parents, and looking back on it as the godlike Doctor Manhattan, he states that until he opened that box, its contents could literally have been anything. A kitten, a teddy bear, a baseball mitt and ball, etc. And in numerous realities it did contain those things. He goes over his entire life and the exact moments that are unchangeable that lead to his metamorphosis into his current state. However, when he witnesses a reality in which he does not find himself locked in the Intrinsic Fields vault, he then is confronted with the possibility that not everything is quantifiable and chaos does exist in a seemingly fixed set of rules. There is obviously much more to the story, but the way in which the plot is scientifically mapped and charted by the author and its protagonist is what truly makes is a fascinating read.

Quantum Possibilities

Superman #12brings a close to the first year of the title and also Dan Jurgens’ role as writer/artist. I love Jurgens and his work, but this issue and the story arc it concludes was not good. We see that the predator monster, who unmasked does actually look dissimilar and more like a reptile than the movie predator, was actually just an unwitting victim, ripped from his home dimension and who is just trying to get back to where he belongs. While fighting his Russian captors to escape captivity, some of them are killed, and because of this Superman tries to bar his exit from Earth, because “this creature needs to pay for his crimes.” WHAT?! Knowing full well that the creature doesn’t want to stay here and was forcefully removed to Earth, are we really supposed to believe that Superman would take that line, especially considering his track record of wanton destruction? No!!! Mister Jurgens, this doesn’t make sense. Better luck on Fury of Firestorm in two months. Starting in September with issue #0, Superman will fall under the skillful pen of Scott Lobdell. I for one, can’t wait.

Justice League Dark #12continues the “Books of Magic” storyline’s descent deeper into the twisted realm of deception. Felix Faust and Dr. Mist turn out to be merely pawns in a faceless enemy’s highly sophisticated plot. While we do not know who this man is, we know he is powerful, we know that he has an old tie to John Constantine, and while Constantine is master of the House of Mystery, this other gentleman is become lord of the House of Secrets. Also, we get to see the true secret about the rift between former lovers Zatanna and Constantine, and oh man is it a doozy.

Teen Titans #12reveals further details about the connection between Cassie Sandsmark and the source of her power, the Silent Armor. The Armor is an evil device, linked to an Armageddon force that thus far Cassie has been able to suppress. However, the enigmatic young man from her past, Diesel, introduced last issue, holds the key to unlocking both her destructive potential and the secret of the armor. In two months we will see how this all plays out. In the backup story by Fabian Nicieza, Teryx, with the help of Kid Flash, hunts down Steg in an attempt to stop his dino-supremacist actions. There isn’t really an ending to this segment making me wonder if it will be a future plot line or a recurring backup.

Voodoo #12marks the end of that series’ main run. There will be a #0 issue next month, but as of the end of this issue, both Voodoo and Priscilla are going to be relegated to the pages of other series, such as Grifter and possibly Superman. When I read the first issue of this series a year ago, I had so many theories and questions as to the destiny of the anti-heroic title character, but this issue didn’t get anywhere close to resolving either. I hope that Grifter utilizes the character better, and both develops her and answers those questions.

All-Star Western #12wraps up the storyline of the reorganized Religion of Crime . . . for now. Jonah Hex and Tallulah Black (along with Dr. Amadeus Arkham) escape from the group’s steampunk deathtrap and take it to the self-appointed Lords of Crime with bare fists and .44 caliber bullets. The results of their labors seem definite, but as is an accepted truth about Gotham City, no evil ever dies. In the meantime, writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray introduce us to the next conflict in the series’ future . . . Dr. Jekyll and his strange associate. In the backup feature, Palmiotti and Gray conclude their “Dr. Thirteen” arc in classic Sherlock Holmes style, with science masqueraded as superstition.

Tallulah Black and Lorna Kyle Duke It Out In Old Gotham

Kirby Genesis: Dragonsbane #3brings the group of mythic heroes closer to the Conspiracy of Dragons imprisoning the Persian princess, Tahmina. In the process, they pick up another comrade-in-arms, the She-Demon. Though she seems generic, it is hinted that she comes from a Romanian inspired mythland. With the last of their fellowship together, the heroes end the issue by setting foot into the Persian mythland and on the verge rescuing Tahmina. Next issue will conclude the series and I have to admit I am intrigued.

The Unwritten #40marks the return of Tom Taylor to the main narrative. As has been foreshadowed in previous issues, Tom is coming to Australia on a world tour of revelation that we can assume is in response to the eponymous “Wound” this arc details following Pullman’s attack on the Leviathan several months ago. It also marks the meeting of Tom with the characters who we have come to see as central these past three months: Daniel Armitage, Det. Didge Patterson, and most importantly, Reverend Lucas Filby of the Church of Tommy cult. When meeting each of these three, Tommy is made aware of something important to his journey forwarding. In fact, Didge’s revelation, born of her disintegration by Pullman’s wooden hand, leads Tom and the title toward the next major arc.

Green Lantern #11is seemingly the beginning of the end. Black Hand has re-died and become a Black Lantern once again. Hal and Sinestro have left Nok and inexorably are drawn to the evil he exudes. After this issue there is one regular issue and the Green Lantern Annual before a new Green Lantern is chosen. Whether this means Hal is going to die or not is equally up in the air. Though it seems that way, considering that the cover of that annual features a design reminiscent of the famous “Death of Superman” issue from the 90’s, I have a feeling that its all a gambit and both Hal and Sinestro are going to dodge the bullet and simply play dead. But then again, Geoff Johns is getting a pretty big head, and may feel that “what Johns giveth, he taketh away.” Since he brought Hal back from the dead, he may feel that its within his right to kill him again. We’ll see.

Shadows of Green Lantern Future . . .

Taking a cue from Grant Morrison’s Action Comics, Flash #11has the Scarlet Speedster killing off his civilian identity, Barry Allen, and creating a new life under a pseudonym in a rough part of town. Taking a job at a bar frequented by the Rogues, he has a better scope of how and where his villains’ attacks will come. As with its predecessors, this issue features the introduction of a new Rogue. This month Heatwave makes his New DC debut and his newest iteration is pretty intense. Whereas in the past he was a tough guy with flamethrowers, he is now a scarred monstrosity that generates flame at will from his body, just as the new Captain Cold can generate ice and freezing effects from his hands. Once again Marcus To is providing art, which though good, is still no substitute for the art of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato.

Aquaman #11has the Atlantian king reuniting with the last of the surviving members of the “Others” whom he fought alongside in his past. Black Manta had been tracking them all down and killing them for the artifacts of old Atlantis that they possessed which could give him power. What power? The power to find another artifact that even Aquaman didn’t know existed. The importance of this lost artifact directly pertains to a question that many have asked for centuries. This is an issue that will define the series and the character for sometime, me thinks.

Green Lantern: The New Guardians#11may be the winner of the week. This issue showcases the genocidal beginnings of Invictus’ evil plans, the confrontation of the New Guardians against Larfleeze, and the revelation of the true “Ring Thief” whose mischief ushered in this who plotline almost a full year ago. The New Guardians have grown so much in the past year and as characters, blossomed into some of the best characters in the New DCU. That is my opinion anyhow. Through solicitations it is obvious that this first year is merely an opening salvo, and the ride of these seven warriors is almost up. Some of them will endure to the next year, but several will not see the start of the next phase. If this issue and next month’s is to be their swansong, then sing on Tony Bedard. I’ve enjoyed what you’ve done with these lanterns and will continue to read the book for what you have in store next.

Batman: The Dark Knight #11was beautiful, but not a lot happened. The Scarecrow continues his insane escapades, abducting children and dosing them with his fear toxin for as of yet an undisclosed reason. There is a slight clue in a background story of Crane’s childhood, but again the exposition is rather vague. What does strike the reader is David Finch’s incredible artwork. Gotta love it. Whatever you say about the plots, which when he ws writing weren’t that bad, his art is top notch. I will say, however, that when he was writing he plots were framed a lot more interestingly. That is my opinion and I humbly submit it as such.

Fury of Firestorm #11brings the series close to the close of its first arc and its first year. Jason Rusch and Firehawk go to Russia and learn some disturbing things about Pozhar, the Russian Firestorm. In Pakistan, Ronnie sees the sinister nature of the master Firestorm for himself as Pozhar’s Cold War, Darwinian experimentations advance to the detriment of many around him. Ashra Khan has yet to show, but somehow I am wondering if Pozhar isn’t Ashra. It would certainly explain a great deal. The Joe Harris/Ethan Van Sciver written series is ending after September’s #0 issue, with Dan Jurgens coming onboard both as artist and writer on issue #13 in October.

Teen Titans #11brings us to an arc showcasing that explores the character of Wonder Girl, aka Cassandra Sandsmark. Her powers come from mystic armor that she absconded with that has bonded itself to her person. This issue show just how closely bonded. Starting with a full page shot of her locked in bathroom with spikes pushing their way out of her flesh, we see that there is something very draconian going on with it. Cut to later when she herself goes over the edge when fighting an adversary that has invaded the group’s New York hideaway. Also introduced is an enigmatic figure integrally tied to Wonder Girl’s past and the armor she wears. Once again, writer Scott Lobdell and artist Brett Booth hit it out of the park and write a engrossing comic that pushes its characters to their limits of their potential.

What It Means To Wear The Armor

Superman #11was . . . something. In the land of Clark Kent he goes on a double date with Lois and her boyfriend, Jonathan Carroll, with Lois’ little sister, Lucy, as his date. Sort of. It advances innocent trouble and drama in his civilian life, but in his superhero life, things get a little weird when he goes to Russia after the contents of a submarine he saved breaks loose. Trying to get their own extraterrestrial superman like America’s, the Russians found . . . a Predator. I am serious. Writer/artist Dan Jurgens has Superman fighting a predator, complete with two pronged punching dagger, dreadlocks, metal mask with glowing eyes and crazy tribal things. Seriously, read the issue and see what I am talking about. Where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover failed, Supes . . . might also fail.

That’s . . . That’s a Predator . . .

All-Star Western #11brings the two Gotham cabals, the Court of Owls and the Religion of Crime, to direct confrontation. It had to happen at some point. And as ever, caught in the middle is Jonah Hex, Dr. Jeremiah Arkham, and now Tallulah Black. The Court of Owls is pretty straightforward. They are, as ever, affluent men and women living in opulence wearing owl masks. They are like that in our time, they were like that in the 1880’s. The Religion of Crime, however, is quite a different matter, because they do not hide their identities. With that in mind, the five Lords of Crime are perhaps the best part of the issue as they themselves are very disparate characters embodying the various disciplines of villainy. In the backup feature we are introduced to Dr. Terrence Thirteen. The Thirteens have shown up in modern times, but to my knowledge this is the first incarnation that existed in the 19th century. A man of science, he cuts a very similar figure to Sherlock Holmes looking pragmatically at the supernatural occurances of the Old West to not only solve crimes, but debunk superstition, the latter of which being his primary motive. Once again an incredible issue from three masters: Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Moritat. Guest artist, Scott Kolins does a good job too on the backup.

The Lords of Crime

National Comics: Eternityis a oneshot comic by Jeff Lemire and drawn by Cully Hammer that introduces readers to the character of Kid Eternity in this New DCU era. This appears to be the first of several oneshots designated National Comics, the original name of DC back in the 1930’s. In this incarnation, Kid Eternity is no longer killed in a U-Boat attack, but rather a gangland drive by shooting. He does return to the power set of recalling the dead to the realm of the living in ghost form for the purpose of justice. This issue is interesting to read as it is both a return to a classic character’s origin, but also a redux.

The New Deadwardians #5takes us to the English countryside to see how the gentry live in this England plagued by the Restless hordes (zombies). The basic setup of English culture and politics of the day are permeated by this issue. Young women are apparently not allowed to take “the cure” (vampirism) until they are married, and only if their husband allows, which is a hot button issue in the Women’s Sufferage movement. Also English fox hunts and pheasant shoots have been replaced by hunting the random Restless for sport. And all the while the keynote issue of the series, the murder of a Youth (vampire) without the use of the three methods leads police inspector George Suttle further into this strange subculture. I hate zombies, but I love this series. Downton Abbey meets Walking Dead.

American Vampire #29 is just awesome. Going into the second chapter of the “Black List” arc, Scott Snyder sends Agents Pearl Jones and Skinner Sweet of the Vassals of the Morningstar against a secret coven of vampires that have nested in Hollywood during the infamous McCarthy trials of the early 50’s. Full of action and intrigue there is little I can reveal about the plot that wouldn’t ruin it. I will say that many assertions are made about the characters and what dark fates lie in store for each. Also, Skinner’s survival after being shot by Pearl in WWII with a golden bullet is disclosed for the first time.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these images and give credit to those whose work they are.